Punjabi social‑media influencer Manjeet Kaur died on August 26 at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh while undergoing treatment for extensive burn injuries. Her death follows an alleged kidnapping on the night of July 3‑4, during which she was reportedly taken from Chandigarh to a forested area near Morinda, Punjab, tied to a tree and set ablaze.
Alleged abduction and attack
According to a complaint filed by Kaur’s mother, Kanta Devi, two acquaintances of the influencer—identified only as Shubhi and Pinda—called Kaur to Chandigarh’s Sector 34 on the intervening night of July 3 and 4. The complainant alleges that the two men assaulted her, forced her into a vehicle and drove her to a wooded location near Morinda. Police statements echo the allegation that Kaur was bound to a tree and set on fire before the perpetrators fled the scene.
A third acquaintance arrived at the site shortly after the attack and, according to the complaint, used a blanket to extinguish the flames. Kaur was then taken to a hospital in Morinda for initial emergency care. She was later transferred to Max Hospital in Mohali and subsequently shifted to PGIMER in Chandigarh, where she remained under intensive treatment for nearly two months.
Medical treatment and attempts to record a statement
During her stay at PGIMER, Kaur reportedly regained consciousness and expressed a desire to give a formal statement to the authorities. Sources indicate that either Kaur herself or one of her acquaintances contacted the police from the hospital to convey her willingness to cooperate.
The police post at PGIMER relayed this information to the investigating officer of Kharar Sadar police, noting that Kaur was conscious and medically fit to provide testimony. A daily diary report (DDR) was recorded at the PGIMER police post to document the communication. Despite the recorded notification, the investigating officer allegedly did not travel to the hospital to record Kaur’s statement.
For almost the entire duration of her treatment—approximately eight weeks—no formal case was registered, and Kaur’s statement remained unrecorded. The lack of a recorded statement became a focal point of criticism after her death.
FIR registration after death and ongoing investigation
Kaur’s condition deteriorated, and she succumbed to her injuries on August 26 at PGIMER. Following her death, the PGIMER police post again communicated the situation to Kharar Sadar police, prompting the investigating officer to finally visit the hospital.
Kanta Devi was then escorted to the Sector 34 police station in Chandigarh, where her own statement was recorded and an FIR was lodged on the evening of the following Wednesday. A post‑mortem examination was conducted at PGIMER the next day, after which Kaur’s body was released to her family.
Chandigarh Police have now opened a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction, the method of transport from Chandigarh to Morinda, and the motive behind the violent assault. Investigators plan to review CCTV footage from Sector 34 and surrounding streets, as well as toll‑plaza camera recordings that could identify the vehicle used in the alleged kidnapping.
The probe will also examine whether the two hospitals that treated Kaur before her transfer to PGIMER—namely the Morinda facility and Max Hospital in Mohali—properly informed police about the medico‑legal case (MLC). Additionally, police will verify whether Kanta Devi had previously approached Punjab Police with allegations of her daughter’s abduction and whether any action was taken on those earlier complaints.
Kaur was a resident of Sunny Enclave, while her mother and brother live in Sector 19, Panchkula. The investigation will therefore also consider why Kaur was in Sector 34 on the night of the alleged abduction.
Official responses and unanswered questions
Punjab Police have denied any negligence, stating that the alleged abduction occurred in Chandigarh and therefore fell under the jurisdiction of Chandigarh Police. The force added that Kharar police provided full assistance to Kaur’s mother and facilitated the registration of the FIR after her death.
Nevertheless, several unresolved issues remain. Authorities have yet to determine why the alleged perpetrators chose to transport Kaur from Chandigarh to a remote area near Morinda, whether additional individuals besides Shubhi and Pinda were involved, and why the hospitals treating her prior to PGIMER may have failed to alert police about the medico‑legal implications of her injuries.
Equally pressing is the question of why Kaur’s statement, which she reportedly wished to give while conscious, was not recorded despite clear communication from the PGIMER police post. The daily diary report suggests that procedural steps were noted, yet the investigating officer’s absence raises concerns about missed investigative opportunities.
As the case proceeds, investigators will also revisit any prior complaints lodged by Kanta Devi with Punjab Police, aiming to establish whether earlier reports existed and, if so, what investigative actions were taken.
The death of Manjeet Kaur has sparked public discussion about police responsiveness, inter‑jurisdictional coordination, and the safety of social‑media personalities in the region. More than 3,000 users have expressed opinions on the matter, and thousands have participated in online polls gauging confidence in the police response.
Chandigarh Police have pledged to reconstruct the sequence of events from the alleged kidnapping in Chandigarh to the arson attack near Morinda, while also reviewing whether procedural lapses—particularly the failure to record a conscious statement—contributed to the tragic outcome.
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