BHATINDA, June 13: Nearly 36 hours after social media influencer Kanchan Kumari — widely known online as Kamal Kaur Bhabhi — was found dead under suspicious circumstances, Punjab Police have arrested two ‘Nihangs’ in connection with what they are calling a blind murder case.
A senior police official confirmed the arrests on Friday, bringing a major breakthrough in the killing that sent shockwaves across Punjab’s digital and influencer community.
Kanchan, a resident of Lachman Colony in Ludhiana, had left home on Monday after informing her family she was attending a promotional event in Bathinda. Her body was discovered late Wednesday night in the back seat of her car, which was parked outside Adesh University near Bhucho Kalan along the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway.
Local residents had alerted authorities after detecting a foul smell coming from the locked vehicle. “The body was in a mutilated state, making it impossible to transport it back to Ludhiana,” said a police official. She was cremated in Bathinda following a post-mortem on Thursday.
The motive behind the murder is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest Kanchan had been receiving threats over her online content. In October last year, she was allegedly warned by Canada-based terrorist Arsh Dalla to stop posting what he called “explicit” videos.
Kanchan had a significant online presence, with 2.36 lakh subscribers on YouTube, 3.84 lakh followers on Instagram, and 1.74 lakh on Facebook.
Police have yet to disclose the identities of the arrested Nihangs or the exact nature of their involvement. Investigators are also probing any links between past threats and the murder.
“The case is sensitive and developing. We are examining all digital evidence and communication records,” the officer added.
