Punjabi influencer murder: Kanchan Kumari died of strangulation, no evidence of sexual assault yet, say police
Asphyxia due to strangulation was the cause of death of YouTuber Kanchan Kumari, popularly known as Kamal Kaur, the Punjab Police confirmed Tuesday.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Amneet Kondal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda, confirmed that the murder took place on the intervening night of June 9 and 10. Kumari was found dead inside her car in the parking lot of Adesh University in Bathinda on June 11.
SSP Kondal clarified that contrary to speculations, the post-mortem report has ruled out sexual assault, although the viscera report is still awaited for a conclusive determination.
Two Nihang Singhs, Jaspreet Singh and Nimratjeet Singh, have been arrested in the case so far. The police said the duo strangled Kumari using a kamar kass (a traditional belt worn by Nihangs), which they later burned to destroy evidence.
The prime accused, Amritpal Singh Mehron, fled India on the morning of June 10, boarding a UAE-bound flight from Amritsar airport, hours after the crime was committed, said the police.
'We have obtained an arrest warrant and are initiating the deportation process for Amritpal Singh from the UAE. He was present at the scene of the crime and is a key conspirator,' added SSP Kondal.
During interrogation, the arrested accused revealed that they had slapped Kanchan Kumari multiple times to obtain the passwords of her mobile phones. After she disclosed the passwords, Amritpal allegedly took both phones with him before fleeing. This has raised serious concerns about what content or communications were stored on her devices that led to such a violent escalation.
The police confirmed that Amritpal also threatened other social media influencers, including Amritsar-based Deepika Luthra. The Amritsar police lodged an FIR and provided her police protection. Sources revealed Luthra deleted her social media accounts following continued threats from anonymous users and Mehron himself.
The case has drawn nationwide outrage, with Bollywood singer Mika Singh publicly condemning the murder in a video message Monday.
'Killing a woman is not bravery. You could have filed a complaint or tried to explain your viewpoint. This is not what Sikhi teaches us,' Mika said, while urging Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take swift action.
'The Sikh community is watching. This case must not be ignored.'
Mika also voiced strong support for Baba Harjit Singh Rasulpur of the Misl Shaheedan Nihang Baba Fakir Singh Rasulpur Dal (Ayodhya Wale), who also condemned the act.
Baba Rasulpur questioned the hypocrisy of Amritpal Singh, who watched content he deemed inappropriate and later targeted the same creators. While urging responsible content creation on social media, he stated emphatically that murder can never be the solution. 'Killing a woman is not an act of valour. If the content was objectionable, one could choose not to watch it,' Baba Rasulpur said.
Meanwhile, Canada-based Punjabi influencer Surleen, known for bold content, responded to the incident and said, 'I have handled my life alone before and will continue to do so. I don't owe anyone an apology for my content. No one has the right to judge or threaten me.'
Kanchan Kumari, a resident of Lachhman Colony, Giaspura, Ludhiana, hailed from Uttar Pradesh, with her family having migrated to Punjab decades ago. Police sources suggested that the accused were pressuring her to remove the word 'Kaur' from her social media handles. Her refusal may have led to the murder, they said.
As of now, Amritpal Singh's exact whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities are continuing efforts to trace him and process his deportation from the UAE.
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