23-year-old Punjab woman killed in Canada
Live-in Partner Charged with Second-Degree Murder
Babushahi Bureau
Edmonton (Canada), July 24, 2026: A 23-year-old woman from Punjab's Ludhiana district was allegedly strangled to death by her live-in partner in Edmonton, Canada, in what police have described as an intimate partner homicide. The accused has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
The deceased has been identified as Damanpreet Kaur, a resident of Samrala in Ludhiana district. According to the Edmonton Police Service, officers responded to a residence in the Silverberry neighbourhood on July 9 after receiving reports of an unresponsive woman with suspicious injuries. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition, where she succumbed to her injuries on July 12.
An autopsy conducted on July 14 confirmed that Damanpreet died due to strangulation, and the death was ruled a homicide. Police said the cause of death had initially been withheld for investigative reasons before being made public.
The accused, Ritish Kumar (22), originally from Delhi, was arrested on July 22 and has been charged with second-degree murder. Investigators said the case is being treated as an intimate partner homicide, adding that no other suspects are being sought. The allegations against the accused have not yet been tested in court.
Family members said Damanpreet had moved to Canada around five years ago after her parents reportedly took a loan to finance her studies and future abroad. Her death has sent shockwaves through her hometown in Punjab, with relatives and well-wishers mourning the tragic loss.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family repatriate Damanpreet's mortal remains to India for her last rites.