From viral fame to violent deaths: 3 Punjab influencers murdered in 16 months

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.