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India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
YouTuber Kamal Kaur's murder, morality and silence: Is Punjab drifting backwards?
Amritsar-based social media influencer Deepika Luthra recently deleted her Instagram account after receiving life threats from radical elements, who had been objecting to her content. This was despite the police providing her days ago, on June 11, Kamal Kaur, a Punjabi YouTuber known to her fans as 'Kamal Bhabhi', was found murdered—strangled and dumped in a canal near Bathinda in Punjab. The killing, carried out allegedly by a Nihang Sikh named Amritpal Singh Mehron and his accomplices, sent shockwaves across the state's online community over a broad pattern of intimidation of social media personalities in followed Kamal Kaur's murder was even more chilling. Giani Malkeet Singh, the head granthi of the Akal Takht—the highest temporal seat of Sikhism—came out to purportedly justify the crime. 'As per Sikh religious teachings,' he said, 'nobody, including Hindus and Muslims, should listen to obscene songs, especially the young Sikh generation.' He blamed Kamal Kaur for corrupting minds, as if hinting that her killing was, in a sense, an act of religious the state police are cracking down on some 100 social media accounts that justified such endorsements even as minister Aman Arora, who is also the Punjab chief of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has urged citizens not to panic. This is not the first time an act of extrajudicial violence in Punjab has found implicit—or even explicit—support from the Sikh clergy. In 2021, a Dalit man was lynched at the Golden Temple premises after being accused of sacrilege. His murder was caught on camera, yet no one from the Sikh institutions or political leadership condemned it 2023, Sudhir Suri, a Hindu outfit leader, was gunned down in Amritsar. The alleged assailant, Sandeep Singh, was valorised on social media by fringe elements as a defender of the faith. He was showered with flower petals by Sikh groups. Again, silence—or at best mealy-mouthed justification—followed from the religious this year, the Amritsar Pride Parade, scheduled for April 27, was cancelled due to strong opposition from Sikh organisations and concerns about religious sanctity. Paramajit Singh Akali, a Nihang Sikh, led the objection, and the clergy supported the protests. The parade has been organised since 2019 as a connecting platform for the LGBTQIA+ community in the the Kamal Kaur case, there's now evidence that the accused, Mehron, had fled to Dubai. Some of his accomplices have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. But what about the broader message? When a religious authority cloaks a murder with moral legitimacy, it is not just justice that is delayed but society that is spiral of intimidation and vigilante justice is not confined to one incident. Last year, a Nihang Sikh publicly harassed and threatened the popular social media couple behind the 'Kulhad Pizza' brand. In October 2024, Nihang Sikhs, led by Baba Maan Singh, had threatened these Jalandhar-based social media influencers, Sehaj Arora and Gurpreet Kaur, accusing them of posting 'lecherous' videos that offended religious Nihangs reportedly demanded that Sehaj either remove his turban or take down the content. The coupled had approached the Akal Takht. Despite sustained intimidation and growing unrest in the community, the Punjab police remained passive. It was only after the couple moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court that they were granted legal then, the law enforcement agencies chose silence over action. The harassment escalated to such a level that they were forced to leave Punjab and seek safety elsewhere. The police response was tepid, at best. An FIR was filed, but the narrative—that religious orthodoxy allows for moral policing—remained and liberal voices in Punjab have started raising red flags. 'Are we now deciding morality with swords?' asks one activist. 'Where is the line between personal freedom and public violence?'Some critics highlight the dangerous absence of institutional guardrails. Thespian Pali Bhupinder Singh argues: 'Kanchan Kumari made low-quality videos, but there was clearly an audience for them. And while her murder can never be justified, the debate that followed has not been a debate at all—it has become a contest of entrenched opinions, motivated by hate, outrage or ideological agendas.'advertisementThe silence of the Sikh institutions is not seen as accidental. These recurring episodes recall Punjab's darkest era of the 1980s, when militancy rose not just from separatist demands but a deeply intolerant climate that branded poets, artists and reformers as enemies of the Avtar Singh Pash, known for his radical humanism, was gunned down in 1988. Actor Varinder Deol and singer Amar Singh Chamkila, whose lyrics celebrated life in all its rough-edged reality, were murdered by extremists. Their crime? Dissent. Expression. the then Akal Takht jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, was convicted in the assassination of Baba Gurbachan Singh, head of the Nirankari sect, in 1980. That killing catalysed a wave of sectarian violence in Punjab. Yet Ranjit Singh is not perceived as a villain in the decades on, Punjab's wounds have not healed; they've only been papered over. And now, dangerously, the old script is reappearing. Several people in the Sikh clergy are actively pushing the community toward radical agendas, squeezing the space for moderate Sikhs and liberal voices. The glorification of Khalistan militants, the erasure or underplaying of the role of those who opposed them, and the selective invocation of Sikh pride all point to a deeper of this is happening in vacuum. It is enabled, even accelerated, by the dwindling credibility of Sikh institutions—both religious and political—that once held moral authority, but now appear either complicit or makes the situation more alarming is the failure of institutions—religious, political and administrative—to draw the line. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), politicians and Sikh religious leaders have all failed to issue a full-throated condemnation of such acts. Even in cases like Kamal Kaur's murder, where the perpetrator is named and the act itself horrific, the narrative is being twisted into one of moral is a slippery slope. What begins as cultural regulation quickly morphs into legitimised violence. The state's complicity—through inaction—only emboldens the self-appointed guardians of a land of poets and reformers, deserves better. The promise of freedom, of faith without fear, cannot be sacrificed at the altar of orthodoxy. When the clergy justifies killing and institutions look the other way, it is not just the victim who suffers but the soul of Punjab to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mango memories, the fruit of togetherness
While people's opinions may differ on this, many would still agree with me when I say that nothing transports a person back to their childhood days like a fruit-laden tree. For a majority of us, childhood memories are filled with jamun, guava and other fruit trees, the best, however, being the mango trees. Though mangoes made it to the supermarket shelves last month, trees laden with unripe green ones can still be found in orchards and private gardens. These continue to attract men and macaws alike as long as the fruiting season is around. I've had my fair share of mango trees as well. While some of them are history for various reasons, one continues to occupy a place of pride in my garden. A lot of excitement and fervour have always marked the process of picking mangoes, as we make it a point to do so on an off day when all would be around. We crack jokes, laugh, and have a good time while making a beeline to this tree with baskets, vessels, and everything we can find to gather the rich harvest, which we happily share with our neighbours. Our current mango tree is more than just a producer of the most luscious mangoes that I have ever had. Besides the fruit, yummy pickles, and tasty chutneys, it has given a lifetime of precious memories that still bring cheer to my family and me. More so, it is a companion that I have grown up with and a counsellor that has helped me understand the intricacies of life. I'm not a psychologist or an expert on the philosophy and psychology of trees, but a most recent change in the fruiting routine of this tree has helped me understand the ravages of loneliness and the benefits of socialising. For as long as I have been associated with it, this tree has had an irregular harvest routine, as, instead of annually, it yields fresh produce every couple of years or more. This is even though a majority of the bottles of mango pickles in my almirah owe their origin to this tree. However, this irregular cycle has changed ever since we planted more than 200 'dharek (also known as Chinaberry)' trees around it nearly a decade ago. Our mango tree started yielding fruit every year. While my garden has never faced a dearth of trees and plants, thanks to my late maternal grandfather's green thumb, this mango tree, situated in a far corner, often appeared lonely in the bygone years. Not anymore, as it has found company among the 'dhareks' that always appear to be dancing and swaying, no matter how dreary the weather. As the seasons change and the mango tree continues to thrive, I am reminded that the true sweetness of life lies in the connections we make and the memories we create. The writer is an Amritsar-based freelance contributor
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Talibanisation of society': After Punjab influencer Kamal Kaur Bhabi's killing, cops go hard on vigilantes; debate rages on what defines vulgarity
Chandigarh: The top brass of Punjab Police has asked the force's officers to deal with acts of moral policing with an iron hand, as a storm rages in the state over social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari aka 'Kamal Kaur Bhabi' being murdered by a self-styled Nihang Sikh, Amritpal Singh Mehron, and his two associates who found her content to be obscene. Acting on these directions, police have arrested a Patiala man for allegedly threatening an Amritsar-based influencer, Deepika Luthra, who has also been provided security along with a second content creator. A police officer said Luthra had received numerous threats and police were investigating each. "People appear to be making threats to make some splash due to the attention the incident [Tiwari murder] has received," said the officer. Punjab special director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla advised such self-styled vigilantes to approach the police if they found anything "objectionable". "We have instructed officers to take strict action against those who are issuing threats. As far as vulgarity is concerned, who are they (self-styled Nihang Sikhs who killed Kanchan) to decide... It is a broad subject, and the definition of vulgarity is different at different places. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo For instance, in the Islamic world, the definition of vulgarity would be different than other places," Shukla said. While Mehron fled to the UAE just seven hours after committing the crime at 2.30am on June 10, Bathinda police – the district where Kanchan's body was found on June 11 – have arrested his two associates and issued look-out circulars against Mehron and another accused, Ranjit Singh. Police have also obtained an open-dated arrest warrant and is set to initiate proceedings for Mehron's deportation. Divided opinions There is a split in society when it comes to the Taliban-style murder of Tiwari, with the biggest defence for Mehron and his associates coming from Giani Malkit Singh, the head granthi of Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. He said Sikh gurus' teachings asked people to keep away from vulgar songs and obscenity. "If someone from another religion changes their name and indulges in such acts to defame the Sikh community, the person should meet the same fate [as Kamal Tiwari]. Nothing wrong has happened," Giani Malkit said. However, many don't agree with his justification. "This is Talibanisation of society and the outcome of a radical mindset. After this, will they also now object to films for which there is a censor board? When some respectable voices speak in favour of such acts, police's task becomes more challenging," said a police officer, who did not wish to be named. Singer Mika Singh put out a video to condemn the act. "Warriors do not attack unarmed women and children," he said. He added the three Nihang Sikhs could have filed a police complaint or counselled the woman. "Why are you killing someone who is dancing and wearing short clothes. There are many other atrocities being committed [in the country], do something for that," Mika said. He also requested chief minister Bhagwant Mann to "rein in such elements". Akali Dal Waris Punjab De legal adviser Imaan Singh Khara, in a video, blamed AAP govt in Punjab for "increasing vulgarity" on social media platforms and for "not acting to check that". Imaan is the son of senior advocate Harpal Singh Khara, counsel for the two associates of Mehron who have been arrested for Kanchan Tiwari's murder. He put out a video on Monday and said the CM Bhagwant Mann-led govt failed to check vulgarity. Citing the Information Technology (IT) Act, Imaan said, "It is a legal offence to spread vulgarity online and in electronic form and govt had powers to ban that. But, like it failed to act against drugs, it failed to ban such social media accounts. AAP govt has been banning those accounts which bat for farmers and Punjab's rights, but has failed to ban the vulgar accounts, be it of men or women. Had it acted earlier, the present circumstances could have been avoided." However, Nihang order Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh reminded the accused of what Khalsa stood for. Responding to a question by the media in a video, the Budha Dal chief pointed out that mobile phones had their pros and cons and there was a need to avoid their misuse. "But one should keep in mind that Khalsa never attacks an unarmed person," he said. 'You get what you watch' Social media influencers argue that the content they put out is driven by viewers who watch such content. A Punjab Police officer too said it was the discretion of viewers. "It all depends on surfing patterns and the content one watches. The viewer has the option to like or dislike a post. Accordingly, there is a pattern of algorithm of the content that appears on one's social media accounts," said the officer. The cyber-crime division of Punjab Police has two wings to monitor and regulate [content] if there is anything incriminating or objectionable. It has a social media analysis centre (SMAC) and a round-the-clock cyber-patrolling unit (CPU), an official said. "If CPU comes across any objectionable or instigating post, like seditious one or the one having the potential to disturb communal harmony, it is flagged to SMAC for blocking. After a three-tier filtering process, the posts or social media handles are identified and a request is sent to the platform concerned to remove those," said the official. The official cited situations where there are borderline posts. "Social media platforms analyse requests on various parameters, including community guidelines and take action accordingly. In case of seditious posts, all requests are accepted. Comparatively, not all posts which are flagged as politically defamatory are removed by the platform concerned. As far as posts with 'vulgar' content are concerned, the definition is wide. Something which may be seen as unlawful here, might not be unlawful in the country from where the social media platform is operating. Something which may be considered obscene here, might not be considered obscene for them," said another official. In May, the cyber-crime division of Punjab police got 555 posts and socials media accounts removed/blocked, which included those identified by the CPU and the complaints it received. These included 222 posts on Facebook, 152 on Instagram, 162 on YouTube and 19 on X. Chandigarh: The top brass of Punjab Police has asked the force's officers to deal with acts of moral policing with an iron hand, as a storm rages in the state over social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari aka 'Kamal Kaur Bhabi' being murdered by a self-styled Nihang Sikh, Amritpal Singh Mehron, and his two associates who found her content to be obscene. Acting on these directions, police have arrested a Patiala man for allegedly threatening an Amritsar-based influencer, Deepika Luthra, who has also been provided security along with a second content creator. A police officer said Luthra had received numerous threats and police were investigating each. "People appear to be making threats to make some splash due to the attention the incident [Tiwari murder] has received," said the officer. Punjab special director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla advised such self-styled vigilantes to approach the police if they found anything "objectionable". "We have instructed officers to take strict action against those who are issuing threats. As far as vulgarity is concerned, who are they (self-styled Nihang Sikhs who killed Kanchan) to decide... It is a broad subject, and the definition of vulgarity is different at different places. For instance, in the Islamic world, the definition of vulgarity would be different than other places," Shukla said. While Mehron fled to the UAE just seven hours after committing the crime at 2.30am on June 10, Bathinda police – the district where Kanchan's body was found on June 11 – have arrested his two associates and issued look-out circulars against Mehron and another accused, Ranjit Singh. Police have also obtained an open-dated arrest warrant and is set to initiate proceedings for Mehron's deportation. Divided opinions There is a split in society when it comes to the Taliban-style murder of Tiwari, with the biggest defence for Mehron and his associates coming from Giani Malkit Singh, the head granthi of Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. He said Sikh gurus' teachings asked people to keep away from vulgar songs and obscenity. "If someone from another religion changes their name and indulges in such acts to defame the Sikh community, the person should meet the same fate [as Kamal Tiwari]. Nothing wrong has happened," Giani Malkit said. However, many don't agree with his justification. "This is Talibanisation of society and the outcome of a radical mindset. After this, will they also now object to films for which there is a censor board? When some respectable voices speak in favour of such acts, police's task becomes more challenging," said a police officer, who did not wish to be named. Singer Mika Singh put out a video to condemn the act. "Warriors do not attack unarmed women and children," he said. He added the three Nihang Sikhs could have filed a police complaint or counselled the woman. "Why are you killing someone who is dancing and wearing short clothes. There are many other atrocities being committed [in the country], do something for that," Mika said. He also requested chief minister Bhagwant Mann to "rein in such elements". Akali Dal Waris Punjab De legal adviser Imaan Singh Khara, in a video, blamed AAP govt in Punjab for "increasing vulgarity" on social media platforms and for "not acting to check that". Imaan is the son of senior advocate Harpal Singh Khara, counsel for the two associates of Mehron who have been arrested for Kanchan Tiwari's murder. He put out a video on Monday and said the CM Bhagwant Mann-led govt failed to check vulgarity. Citing the Information Technology (IT) Act, Imaan said, "It is a legal offence to spread vulgarity online and in electronic form and govt had powers to ban that. But, like it failed to act against drugs, it failed to ban such social media accounts. AAP govt has been banning those accounts which bat for farmers and Punjab's rights, but has failed to ban the vulgar accounts, be it of men or women. Had it acted earlier, the present circumstances could have been avoided." However, Nihang order Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh reminded the accused of what Khalsa stood for. Responding to a question by the media in a video, the Budha Dal chief pointed out that mobile phones had their pros and cons and there was a need to avoid their misuse. "But one should keep in mind that Khalsa never attacks an unarmed person," he said. 'You get what you watch' Social media influencers argue that the content they put out is driven by viewers who watch such content. A Punjab Police officer too said it was the discretion of viewers. "It all depends on surfing patterns and the content one watches. The viewer has the option to like or dislike a post. Accordingly, there is a pattern of algorithm of the content that appears on one's social media accounts," said the officer. The cyber-crime division of Punjab Police has two wings to monitor and regulate [content] if there is anything incriminating or objectionable. It has a social media analysis centre (SMAC) and a round-the-clock cyber-patrolling unit (CPU), an official said. "If CPU comes across any objectionable or instigating post, like seditious one or the one having the potential to disturb communal harmony, it is flagged to SMAC for blocking. After a three-tier filtering process, the posts or social media handles are identified and a request is sent to the platform concerned to remove those," said the official. The official cited situations where there are borderline posts. "Social media platforms analyse requests on various parameters, including community guidelines and take action accordingly. In case of seditious posts, all requests are accepted. Comparatively, not all posts which are flagged as politically defamatory are removed by the platform concerned. As far as posts with 'vulgar' content are concerned, the definition is wide. Something which may be seen as unlawful here, might not be unlawful in the country from where the social media platform is operating. Something which may be considered obscene here, might not be considered obscene for them," said another official. In May, the cyber-crime division of Punjab police got 555 posts and socials media accounts removed/blocked, which included those identified by the CPU and the complaints it received. These included 222 posts on Facebook, 152 on Instagram, 162 on YouTube and 19 on X.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Talibanisation of society': Punjab Police go hard on vigilantes as influencer Kanchan Tiwari's murder over moral policing spills over
Chandigarh: The top brass of Punjab Police has asked the force's officers to deal with acts of moral policing with an iron hand, as a storm rages in the state over social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari aka 'Kamal Kaur Bhabi' being murdered by a self-styled Nihang Sikh, Amritpal Singh Mehron, and his two associates who found her content to be obscene. Acting on these directions, police have arrested a Patiala man for allegedly threatening an Amritsar-based influencer, Deepika Luthra, who has also been provided security along with a second content creator. A police officer said Luthra had received numerous threats and police were investigating each. "People appear to be making threats to make some splash due to the attention the incident [Tiwari murder] has received," said the officer. Punjab special director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla advised such self-styled vigilantes to approach the police if they found anything "objectionable". "We have instructed officers to take strict action against those who are issuing threats. As far as vulgarity is concerned, who are they (self-styled Nihang Sikhs who killed Kanchan) to decide... It is a broad subject, and the definition of vulgarity is different at different places. For instance, in the Islamic world, the definition of vulgarity would be different than other places," Shukla said. While Mehron fled to the UAE just seven hours after committing the crime at 2.30am on June 10, Bathinda police – the district where Kanchan's body was found on June 11 – have arrested his two associates and issued look-out circulars against Mehron and another accused, Ranjit Singh. Police have also obtained an open-dated arrest warrant and is set to initiate proceedings for Mehron's deportation. Divided opinions There is a split in society when it comes to the Taliban-style murder of Tiwari, with the biggest defence for Mehron and his associates coming from Giani Malkit Singh, the head granthi of Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. He said Sikh gurus' teachings asked people to keep away from vulgar songs and obscenity. "If someone from another religion changes their name and indulges in such acts to defame the Sikh community, the person should meet the same fate [as Kamal Tiwari]. Nothing wrong has happened," Giani Malkit said. However, many don't agree with his justification. "This is Talibanisation of society and the outcome of a radical mindset. After this, will they also now object to films for which there is a censor board? When some respectable voices speak in favour of such acts, police's task becomes more challenging," said a police officer, who did not wish to be named. Singer Mika Singh put out a video to condemn the act. "Warriors do not attack unarmed women and children," he said. He added the three Nihang Sikhs could have filed a police complaint or counselled the woman. "Why are you killing someone who is dancing and wearing short clothes. There are many other atrocities being committed [in the country], do something for that," Mika said. He also requested chief minister Bhagwant Mann to "rein in such elements". Akali Dal Waris Punjab De legal adviser Imaan Singh Khara, in a video, blamed AAP govt in Punjab for "increasing vulgarity" on social media platforms and for "not acting to check that". Imaan is the son of senior advocate Harpal Singh Khara, counsel for the two associates of Mehron who have been arrested for Kanchan Tiwari's murder. He put out a video on Monday and said the CM Bhagwant Mann-led govt failed to check vulgarity. Citing the Information Technology (IT) Act, Imaan said, "It is a legal offence to spread vulgarity online and in electronic form and govt had powers to ban that. But, like it failed to act against drugs, it failed to ban such social media accounts. AAP govt has been banning those accounts which bat for farmers and Punjab's rights, but has failed to ban the vulgar accounts, be it of men or women. Had it acted earlier, the present circumstances could have been avoided." However, Nihang order Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh reminded the accused of what Khalsa stood for. Responding to a question by the media in a video, the Budha Dal chief pointed out that mobile phones had their pros and cons and there was a need to avoid their misuse. "But one should keep in mind that Khalsa never attacks an unarmed person," he said. 'You get what you watch' Social media influencers argue that the content they put out is driven by viewers who watch such content. A Punjab Police officer too said it was the discretion of viewers. "It all depends on surfing patterns and the content one watches. The viewer has the option to like or dislike a post. Accordingly, there is a pattern of algorithm of the content that appears on one's social media accounts," said the officer. The cyber-crime division of Punjab Police has two wings to monitor and regulate [content] if there is anything incriminating or objectionable. It has a social media analysis centre (SMAC) and a round-the-clock cyber-patrolling unit (CPU), an official said. "If CPU comes across any objectionable or instigating post, like seditious one or the one having the potential to disturb communal harmony, it is flagged to SMAC for blocking. After a three-tier filtering process, the posts or social media handles are identified and a request is sent to the platform concerned to remove those," said the official. The official cited situations where there are borderline posts. "Social media platforms analyse requests on various parameters, including community guidelines and take action accordingly. In case of seditious posts, all requests are accepted. Comparatively, not all posts which are flagged as politically defamatory are removed by the platform concerned. As far as posts with 'vulgar' content are concerned, the definition is wide. Something which may be seen as unlawful here, might not be unlawful in the country from where the social media platform is operating. Something which may be considered obscene here, might not be considered obscene for them," said another official. In May, the cyber-crime division of Punjab police got 555 posts and socials media accounts removed/blocked, which included those identified by the CPU and the complaints it received. These included 222 posts on Facebook, 152 on Instagram, 162 on YouTube and 19 on X.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Indian Express
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.
