Manjeet Kaur was a Punjabi social media influencer who had built a sizeable following through short videos, lifestyle content and family-oriented posts.
She had around 1.46 lakh followers on Instagram, where she regularly uploaded reels, promotional content for cosmetic products and videos featuring popular Punjabi and Haryanvi songs.
Kaur also ran a YouTube channel with around 3,930 subscribers, where she shared family vlogs and other personal content.
Her social media presence had made her a familiar face among her followers. However, her life changed dramatically in July when she was abducted from Chandigarh and taken to an isolated area near Morinda, where she suffered severe burn injuries.
After battling her injuries for nearly two months, Kaur died at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh on Wednesday, August 26.
Manjeet abducted from Chandigarh
According to the complaint filed by her mother, Kanta Devi, Manjeet was called to Sector 34 in Chandigarh during the intervening night of July 3 and 4 by two acquaintances identified as Shubhi and Pinda.
The two assaulted her before forcing her into a vehicle.
Police said she was then taken to a forested area near Morinda in Punjab. According to the allegations, the accused tied Manjeet to a tree and set her on fire before fleeing from the spot.
Another acquaintance subsequently reached the location and found Manjeet severely injured. The flames were reportedly extinguished using a blanket.
She suffered extensive burn injuries and was initially taken to a hospital in Morinda.
Her condition required specialised treatment, following which she was shifted to Max Hospital in Mohali and later admitted to PGIMER Chandigarh.
She remained under treatment for several weeks before eventually succumbing to her injuries.
Social media rumours surrounded the case
While Manjeet was undergoing treatment, several claims about her personal life began circulating on social media.
An Instagram post shared from her profile on July 28 appealed to people not to spread unverified information about the case.
The post said the family was already under severe emotional stress because of Manjeet’s condition and the rumours circulating online.
It specifically addressed claims concerning Manjeet’s pregnancy and allegations that her boyfriend, Rinku Gill, was responsible for the attack.
The post defended Gill and questioned why he would be accused of attacking Manjeet when, according to the post, he was involved in helping her after the incident and was paying for her hospital treatment.
It also criticised people for making claims about Manjeet’s pregnancy without knowing the facts or having access to medical evidence.
The post appealed to social media users to wait for the investigation and the complete facts of the case rather than circulate rumours.
Questions over delay in recording Manjeet’s statement
The circumstances surrounding the police investigation have also come under scrutiny, particularly over a delay in recording Manjeet’s statement.
Sources cited in reports said Manjeet regained consciousness during her treatment at PGIMER and was in a condition to speak to investigators.
The PGIMER police post reportedly informed Kharar Sadar police that Manjeet was conscious and capable of giving a statement.
However, sources alleged that the investigating officer did not reach the hospital to record her statement.
A daily diary report was reportedly made at the PGI police post regarding the communication.
The issue has raised questions about whether investigators missed an opportunity to record Manjeet’s account of the attack while she was alive.
Punjab Police, however, have denied allegations of negligence.
Police have said the alleged abduction took place in Chandigarh and that the necessary legal action therefore fell within the jurisdiction of Chandigarh Police. They also said Kharar police assisted Manjeet’s mother in the process of registering the case.
FIR registered after Manjeet’s death
Following Manjeet’s death, her mother approached Chandigarh Police.
Her statement was recorded at Sector 34 police station, following which an FIR was registered in connection with the alleged abduction and murder.
Investigators are now examining available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Chandigarh Police are reportedly checking CCTV footage from the area and attempting to trace the vehicle allegedly used to take Manjeet from Chandigarh towards Morinda.
The investigation is also expected to focus on the identities and roles of the people allegedly involved in the abduction and attack.
A social media influencer whose life ended in a brutal attack
Before the attack, Manjeet Kaur’s online presence centred largely on everyday life, family videos, beauty and lifestyle content.
Her Instagram account had grown to more than one lakh followers, while her YouTube channel featured family-oriented videos.
The alleged attack, however, transformed her case into a major criminal investigation spanning Chandigarh and Punjab.
With Manjeet now dead, investigators face the task of establishing exactly what happened between her alleged abduction from Chandigarh and the attack near Morinda, identifying all those responsible and determining the motive behind the crime.
The case has also intensified questions about whether her statement could have provided crucial evidence had it been recorded while she was conscious and undergoing treatment.
