Influencer Kamal Kaur found dead in parked car: Punjab police launches investigation

The body of social media influencer Kamal Kaur was found late Wednesday night inside a parked car in Bathinda, Punjab, triggering a murder investigation by Punjab Police, according to reports.

The 30-year-old Ludhiana-based influencer, known for her reels on Instagram where she had over 3.83 lakh followers, was discovered after a foul smell emanating from the vehicle alerted people nearby.

The car, registered in Ludhiana district, is believed to have been used to transport her body from another location before it was abandoned in the university's parking area, according to reports.

“Prima facie there seems something fishy and an FIR under murder charges is being registered,” Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal told The Times of India. A forensic team has been called in to assist with the investigation.

Kaur's shocking death is not an isolated case—it follows a troubling global pattern of influencers being targeted, harmed, or killed, often under violent or suspicious circumstances.

In May 2025, Mexican influencer Valeria Márquez, 23, was fatally shot while livestreaming from her beauty salon. Authorities are investigating the case as a femicide, reportedly linked to drug cartel violence. Similar fates have befallen influencers in Colombia and other parts of Latin America, where online fame increasingly intersects with criminal underworlds.

In April 2024, Iraqi TikTok personality Um Fahad was shot dead by a motorbike gunman in Baghdad—one of several influencers killed in the country that year amid political and social unrest.

Beyond targeted violence, some deaths have resulted from dangerous content creation. A British influencer in Spain recently fell from a bridge while filming a stunt, underscoring the risks some take for viral fame.

These deaths spotlight the unique vulnerabilities of influencers today—particularly young women—whose visibility, lifestyle, and perceived influence can make them targets in volatile regions or under rigid social structures.

As Punjab Police continue their investigation into Kamal Kaur’s death, no suspects or motives have yet been publicly confirmed. Forensic experts are now working to establish the timeline and manner of her death.

While friends and followers mourn her loss, Kaur’s death adds to a growing, grim list of digital-era tragedies—where internet fame collides with real-world danger.