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India Today
24-06-2025
- 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
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
Social media influencer was strangled to death, says autopsy report
Bathinda: Social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari, known as Kamal Kaur 'Bhabhi', was strangled to death, according to an autopsy report from a panel of three doctors at Bathinda civil hospital. The report, prepared on June 12, mentioned that suspicious marks were found on her thighs but there was no proof of sexual assault. The viscera report is still awaited. "The cause of death is asphyxia due to strangulation. Viscera samples are taken for chemical analysis and histopathological examination for any poison or drug overdose," said the autopsy report. Kamal Kaur was killed in the early hours of June 10. The body — recovered from the parking lot of Adesh Medical University near Bathinda late on June 11 — was in an advanced stage of decomposition, said the report, mentioning bloating, peeling skin, and easily removable hair that suggested the time between her death and postmortem (4.30 pm on June 12) to be about two to five days. Amritpal Singh Mehron, who claims to head radical organisation 'Kaum de Rakhe', along with his two accomplices, is accused of killing the influencer for allegedly posting bold and obscene content on social media in what police has described as a case of moral policing. On June 9, the three allegedly brought Kamal Kaur from Ludhiana to Bathinda under the pretext of promoting a video about the sale of cars and repair of her Hyundai Eon. She is believed to have been strangled after 2 am on June 10. Seven hours later, Mehron boarded a flight for the United Arab Emirates, while two of his accomplices were arrested. Later, police named two more suspects, including one Ranjit Singh from Tarn Taran district. Lookout circulars have been issued against Mehron and Ranjit Singh. After Kamal Kaur's killing, threats were issued to other social media influencers, including Deepika Luthra, Preet Jatti, and few others against posting "obscene content". MSID:: 121930578 413 |
India Today
17-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Akal Takht head priest's statement on Punjabi influencer's murder sparks row
The investigation into Punjabi influencer Kanchan Kumari's, a popular Youtuber known as Kamal Kaur or "Queen", murder has taken a dramatic turn with controversial statements by the head priest of the Akal Takht. The priest appeared to justify the murder, stating that such individuals bring shame to Sikhism. Political parties have distanced themselves from his remarks. Kanchan Kumari was found murdered in her parking lot, with her killing linked to terrorist Arsh Dalla, though the investigation is ongoing.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Murder, morality, and free speech: A killing that split public conscience
The justification of social media influencer Kamal Kaur alias Kanchan Kumari's murder by Sri Akal Takht Sahib head priest Malkit Singh has raised a troubling question: is society willing to risk freedom of speech and expression in favour of moral policing? Harjeshwar Pal Singh, assistant professor of history at SGGS College, Chandigarh, said the murder, allegedly committed by Amritpal Singh Mehron and his associates, was not just a criminal act but also 'an assault on freedom of speech.' 'No one in a society has the business to dictate what others should wear, eat, think, or how they should behave—and no one has the right to take another person's life for their views or lifestyle. It is unjustifiable and barbaric,' he said. He added that the widespread online support for such acts reveals deepening polarisation and radicalisation in society. 'There are enough laws around 'indecency' and 'outraging public morality' that can be updated to include social media. The problem is these laws are often applied selectively, usually by the state to serve its own political purposes. Giving the state more such powers only strengthens its hand against the individual,' he said. Kiranjot Kaur, member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said the Akal Takht head priest should have avoided making any remarks at all. 'But also, if anything posted on social media falls under freedom of speech, then why do we have a censor board? If the concern is that governments might use social media restrictions to silence criticism, that's already happening. Most mainstream media is toeing the government line.' Social and environmental activist Gangveer Rathour also condemned the murder but questioned the inconsistency in how freedom of speech is applied. 'In 2022, Punjab Police booked an 11-year-old after his father posted a photo of him with a licensed weapon. If vulgar content is protected under free speech, why doesn't the same logic apply to that image? You can't show weapons, but you can show bodies? It's a delusion to think that restricting vulgar content will somehow empower the government to stifle dissent—it already does that regardless.' Writer and director Pali Bhupinder Singh said, 'What the law doesn't prohibit falls within the scope of freedom of speech and expression. Even the censor board functions mostly to suppress critical voices—just look at the movie Punjab 95. It didn't block vulgar content, but it did block dissent. Censorship is always a tool of control.' He added, 'People argue that mobile phones are in children's hands, so content should be censored. But the question is, why are children on phones unsupervised in the first place? And even if they are, who is responsible for teaching them how to use them? Moral policing—especially when done violently or by those misusing religious identity—is indefensible.' Film and media critic Harpreet Singh said the murder was 'a shock to a civilised society' and pointed out that it has only intensified a pre-existing ideological divide. 'Kanchan Kumari made low-quality videos, yes, 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,' he said. He traced the trajectory of vulgarity in popular culture to mainstream media. 'B-grade cinema was once the domain of sleaze. But when Sunny Leone entered the family space via Bigg Boss, it quietly normalised sexual content. With smartphones and 4G, that boundary blurred further. Today, people from ordinary households create reels with similar themes. It's not just celebrities anymore—it's everyday content creators.' 'Between society, family, and discipline lies a delicate code that balances law, morality, and freedom of expression. But neither side is truly ready for an honest conversation—neither those who demand complete freedom, nor those who call for limits and censorship.' Closing the debate, Punjab State Women's Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill said the Commission, in coordination with legal experts, will take strict action against those producing and circulating such material. 'The increasing use of vulgar language and explicit content on social media is having a harmful impact on children and society at large,' she said. 'We cannot allow the misuse of freedom of expression to promote obscenity. Those who are creating and profiting from such content will be dealt with under relevant sections of the IT Act.' Gill added that freedom of speech must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of social and legal norms. 'Both girls and boys should refrain from engaging in or encouraging objectionable content online,' she said.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Time of India
‘This happens to those who defame Sikh religion': Akal Takht head granthi justifies murder of Punjab influencer Kamal Kaur 'Bhabhi', says ‘nothing wrong happened'
NEW DELHI: The head granthi of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Malkit Singh, on Tuesday appeared to justify the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari, also known as Kamal Kaur 'Bhabhi', saying "such a thing should happen with people who defame the Sikh religion. " The remarks came amid ongoing outrage over the killing of Kamal Kaur, whose body was found in a car parked outside Adesh Medical University in Bathinda on the night of June 11. The murder, police say, was planned and executed by one Amritpal Singh Mehron, a self-proclaimed radical leader of the group 'Qaum De Rakhe', who fled to the United Arab Emirates hours after the crime. Kamal Kaur was allegedly strangled in the early hours of June 10 by Mehron and his two associates — Jaspreet Singh and Nimratjit Singh — after they lured her to Bathinda under the pretext of vehicle promotion and car repairs. The police revealed that Mehron forcibly took her mobile phones, obtained her passwords through physical coercion, and later instructed his accomplices to leave her body in a parked car before fleeing the country. Giani Malkit Singh's comment was made in Amritsar during a media interaction. He said, 'Such a thing should happen with people who defame the Sikh religion. Nothing wrong has happened.' Meanwhile, the Punjab Police have launched a manhunt and are working on initiating extradition proceedings against Mehron. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo Jaspreet and Nimratjit have been arrested, and their statements have confirmed Mehron's role in the murder. Police have also identified two more men believed to have had knowledge of the crime. Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal confirmed that Mehron boarded a flight from Amritsar airport at 9.15am on June 10, hours after the murder. Police are investigating additional charges against him, including previous cases of threats and vandalism, with his criminal record including a 2021 incident involving a music producer and a 2020 act of damaging statues near the Golden Temple. While the forensic reports, including the viscera analysis, are awaited to determine whether there was any sexual exploitation involved, the SSP said no formal complaint had yet been received on that front. (With agency inputs)
