Beyond reels: 3 influencers, 3 killings, a trail of questions

CHANDIGARH: A video can make someone famous overnight. A controversial opinion can turn them into a target. And in the world of social media, where every post is open to public scrutiny, the line between criticism and hostility can become dangerously blurred.For content creators, the internet is more than a platform to entertain. It is also a space to express themselves, build an identity and earn a living. But not everyone who watches their content agrees with what they see. Some respond with criticism, others with abuse and threats.The more disturbing question is what happens when disapproval moves beyond the screen.In Punjab, the deaths of social media creators Mad Sandhu, Kanchan Kumari and Manjeet Kaur have brought renewed attention to three separate murder cases involving influencers with lakhs of followers.One was found strangled inside a car. Another was allegedly abducted, taken to an isolated area and set on fire. The third was shot dead outside a car-washing facility.Kanchan Kumari, popularly known as Kamal Kaur ‘Bhabhi’, had nearly four lakh Instagram followers. Manjeet Kaur had built an audience of around 1.46 lakh, while Amritsar-based make-up artist Madhusudan Singh, known online as Mad Sandhu, had around 2.26 lakh followers.Their content and audiences differed, as did the circumstances of their deaths. Here is a look at the three cases and what investigators have established so far.Mad Sandhu: Shot dead outside car-washing facilityMad Sandhu, whose real name was Madhusudan Singh, was shot dead on Loharka Road in Amritsar on October 3, 2026.The make-up artist, who had more than two lakh Instagram followers, had spoken openly about gender and LGBTQ+ issues.He had also faced objections to his clothing, older videos and social media activity from a Nihang group months before his death. Sandhu had said he had changed and that old clips were being recirculated.Several suspects were arrested, including Jobanpreet, a key accused apprehended in Mumbai on October 14. Police said he allegedly played a role in the movement of weapons and logistical support for the shooters.However, investigators have not publicly established a conclusive motive for Sandhu’s murder.Manjeet Kaur: Abducted and set on firePunjabi social media influencer and YouTuber Manjeet Kaur died at PGIMER in Chandigarh on August 26, 2026, after suffering severe burn injuries. She had shared lifestyle videos, beauty product promotions and family vlogs.According to her mother’s complaint, two acquaintances called Manjeet to Chandigarh’s Sector 34 on the intervening night of July 3 and 4.She was allegedly forced into a vehicle and taken to a wooded area near Morinda, where she was tied to a tree and set on fire.A passerby reportedly helped extinguish the flames before she was taken for treatment. She remained under medical care for nearly two months before succumbing to her injuries.The case also raised questions about an alleged delay in recording her statement. Reports said Manjeet had expressed a desire to give a statement while she was conscious during treatment, but the investigating officer allegedly did not reach the hospital.Punjab Police denied negligence, saying the alleged abduction had taken place in Chandigarh and fell under Chandigarh Police’s jurisdiction.Following her death, Chandigarh Police registered a murder case.Investigators have been examining the alleged abduction, the roles of those named in the complaint and the motive behind the attack. No confirmed link between Manjeet’s social media content and her killing has emerged in the reported investigation.Kanchan Kumari: Found strangled inside a carThe sequence of cases dates back to June 2025, when social media creator Kanchan Kumari, popularly known as Kamal Kaur ‘Bhabhi’, was found dead inside a car parked near Adesh Medical University in Bathinda.Kanchan, who was from Ludhiana, had left for a promotional video shoot. Her body was found in the vehicle on June 11, 2025. A postmortem examination confirmed that she had died of strangulation.Police alleged that the killing was linked to objections raised by the accused to videos she posted online. Amritpal Singh Mehron, identified as the main accused, had allegedly objected to content he considered vulgar and to her use of the name ‘Kaur’.Police described the murder as an instance of “moral policing”.Mehron fled to the UAE after the crime and was brought back to India in April 2026. Other accused were also arrested, and police filed a supplementary chargesheet against Mehron and another accused in May 2026.A Bathinda court framed murder charges against Mehron and an associate in August 2026.Three murders in 16 monthsIn a span of around 16 months, three social media creators with lakhs of followers were murdered in Punjab. The circumstances differed: Kanchan was strangled, Manjeet died after an alleged abduction and arson attack, and Sandhu was shot dead in public.The three cases have placed the deaths of public-facing social media creators at the centre of separate murder investigations in Punjab. While the evidence and circumstances differ, all three involved people who had built sizable audiences online and whose killings have left investigators with questions to answer.Public life often demands safety and security, with constant online presence inviting online bullying.Vaishnavi Rampurkar, a Pune resident, said she felt uneasy while reading the comment sections of posts by women influencers and creators from the LGBTQ+ community.“An influencer’s life seems eye-catching, but whenever I scroll through the comments, one question always hits me: is it worth receiving this much hate just because I am following my passion?” she said.Geeta Mamde, a resident of Keshav Nagar area of Pune, spoke about the vulnerability that can accompany pursuing one’s passion in public.“It’s scary how you can be out there pursuing your passion, simply walking or recording a video, and the next moment, your life is taken away. It makes you question how safe we really are,” she added.The three cases involve different circumstances and investigative leads, but each has drawn attention to the vulnerability of people with a public presence. As investigations continue, a key question remains: where does public scrutiny end, and the safety of those living their lives in the public eye begin?You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chandigarh | Silver Rate in Chandigarh | Bank Holidays in Chandigarh | Public Holidays in Chandigarh | Chandigarh AQI | Weather in Chandigarh | Petrol Price in Chandigarh | Diesel Price in Chandigarh | CNG Price in Chandigarh | LPG Price in ChandigarhStay updated with the latest Chandigarh news. Download the TOI App.