Punjabi influencer dies almost two months after brutal assault by acquaintances

Punjabi social media star Manjit Kaur passed away at a government hospital in Chandigarh, nearly two months after she was allegedly assaulted and set ablaze, according to police. Kaur, 28, succumbed to her injuries on August 26 while receiving treatment at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, police reported on August 29, 2026.

Her mother lodged a complaint alleging that Kaur was kidnapped by two acquaintances, Shubhi and Pinda, on July 3 after they called her near a liquor shop in Sector 34, Chandigarh. Kaur was then allegedly transported to Morinda, Punjab, where she endured an assault, was tied to a tree, and was set on fire, according to the complaint.

Kaur's friend managed to extinguish the flames using a blanket and rushed her to a nearby hospital in Morinda. She was subsequently transferred to a private facility in Mohali and eventually arrived at PGIMER in Chandigarh. Kaur's mother claimed that her daughter regained consciousness on August 5, yet the police in Kharar, Mohali, failed to arrive upon notification to record her statement. The police, however, denied these allegations, stating that they had fully cooperated with the family.

A case has been initiated under sections 103(1) (murder) and 140(1) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as per police. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to trace the assailants. Efforts are being made to gather evidence, including CCTV footage, to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping. The motive behind Kaur's death remains undetermined. Kaur, who boasted about 1.46 lakh followers on Instagram, was known for posting videos featuring Punjabi and Haryanvi songs.