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- By Surarika Das
- Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:32 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Punjab woman Damanpreet Kaur strangled in Edmonton, Canada.
- Live-in partner Ritesh Kumar charged with second-degree murder.
- Family took loan for her education; GoFundMe for repatriation.
A 23-year-old woman from Punjab’s Ludhiana was allegedly strangled to death at her home in Edmonton, Canada. The Edmonton police have arrested her live-in partner, who is also an Indian, in connection to the killing. The deceased has been identified as Damanpreet Kaur, originally from Samrala, and was staying in Canada on a student visa. The accused has been identified as Ritesh Kumar (22), and the police have charged him with second-degree murder.
On July 9, the Edmonton Police Services (EPS) received reports of an unresponsive woman with suspicious injuries in southeast Edmonton's Silverberry neighbourhood. The cops soon rushed to the location and admitted her to the hospital. However, the 23-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries on July 12.
In a statement, the Edmonton Police Service said officers from the Southeast Branch responded to a call at around 6:44 pm on July 9 regarding an unresponsive woman with suspicious injuries at a residence in the Silverberry neighbourhood. An adult male was taken into custody shortly thereafter, The New Indian Express reported.
What Did Autopsy Report Say?
The Edmonton Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on July 14 and determined that Damanpreet Kaur had died as a result of homicide. Police said the cause of death, initially withheld for investigative reasons, was strangulation.
Police said the matter is being treated as an intimate partner homicide and that they do not suspect any other person in the case. The allegations against the accused have not yet been tested in court. Kumar was apprehended on July 22.
Parents Took a Loan for Education
Kaur’s family said that they had sent their daughter to Canada about five years ago after her parents reportedly took out a loan to fund her education and future abroad. A GoFundMe campaign launched to repatriate Kaur's body to India has raised more than $18,000, nearing its $20,000 target.
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Her death has sent shockwaves through her hometown of Samrala in Ludhiana district, with relatives and well-wishers mourning the loss.
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