A 29-year-old woman employee was stabbed to death by her colleague inside a private logistics company in Phase 11, Mohali, on Thursday evening. The accused allegedly stabbed himself after the attack and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital, police said.
The incident occurred around 7.30 pm on the second floor of SRP US Logistics. The victim, Dimple, 29, a resident of Patiala, worked in the company’s dispatch team. The accused, identified as Harjinder Mann, 33, also a native of Patiala, residing in Purva Apartments in Sector 82, Mohali, allegedly entered her cabin and stabbed her multiple times with a sharp-edged weapon. Dimple succumbed to her injuries at the spot.
Attack caught on CCTV
The gruesome incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed inside the office.
The accused entered the office on Thursday evening and allegedly attacked Dimple while she was working at her desk. The video shows he repeatedly stabbed her and chased her as she tried to escape. Several employees reportedly attempted to intervene but were unable to stop the assault.
After attacking the woman, the accused stabbed himself multiple times in an apparent suicide attempt.
Both individuals were rushed to Fortis Hospital in Mohali. Dimple succumbed to her injuries during treatment, while the accused remains hospitalised.
Relationship angle under investigation
Police have not officially disclosed a motive for the crime. However, NDTV reported that investigators are examining whether the accused and the victim were previously in a relationship.
According to the report, the two had worked together at the company for around three years and were believed to have dated before parting ways.
According to India Today, Mann was allegedly struggling to come to terms with the breakup and had repeatedly tried to reconcile with Dimple. Investigators suspect his efforts were unsuccessful, leaving him emotionally distressed in the weeks leading up to the attack.
Officials, however, said all aspects of the case are being examined and the exact motive behind the incident has not yet been established.
Police from the Phase 11 police station have registered a murder case and launched an investigation. A forensic team has collected evidence from the crime scene, while the families of both the victim and the accused have been informed, officials said.
Similar case in Gurugram
The deceased was identified as Harvinder Singh, a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. The accused, who hails from Deeg in Rajasthan, was arrested from Rampura in Sector 82A, officials familiar with the investigation said.
According to police, both men had been working as welders at the workshop for the past couple of years.
The incident took place between 1.30 pm and 2 pm on a Tuesday during lunch hours, when the two were spending time together.
Investigators said an exchange of abuses led to a scuffle between the two men. During the altercation, the accused allegedly overpowered the victim and inserted an air compressor nozzle into his body.
Hearing the victim's screams, people in the vicinity rushed to the workshop and took him to a nearby private hospital. However, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. A few major suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-23389090 from Sumaitri (Delhi-based) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based).
