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The incident has once again drawn attention to cases of domestic violence and marital abuse, including among families living overseas
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As the investigation continues, Prabhjot’s family has appealed to the authorities to ensure swift justice and strict punishment for the accused, hoping it will prevent similar tragedies in the future
An NRI woman who had recently arrived in India from Austria to attend a family religious programme was found murdered in a hotel room in Amritsar on Monday, triggering shock and outrage among her relatives and the local community. The victim, identified as Prabhjot, had travelled to Punjab with her husband, Mandeep Singh Dhillon, barely a week ago. Police have registered a murder case and launched an extensive search for Dhillon, who has been absconding since the incident.
Prabhjot hailed from Waraich village in Gurdaspur district and had been living abroad since her marriage seven years ago. According to family members, she returned to India to attend an Akhand Path and to celebrate the first Lohri of her seven-month-old son. What was meant to be a joyful family occasion ended in tragedy.
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Her brother, Lovepreet Singh, alleged that Prabhjot’s marriage had been troubled for some time
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He claimed that her husband had grown increasingly suspicious of her character, leading to frequent arguments
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“Over time, his doubts turned into constant harassment,” he said, adding that the situation had deeply affected his sister
Prabhjot’s father, Makhan Singh, accused his son-in-law of deliberately misleading the family. He alleged that Dhillon had told them the couple was going on a short trip, but instead took Prabhjot to a hotel in Amritsar, where she was allegedly murdered. “We want justice for our daughter. She came home to celebrate her child’s first Lohri, not to lose her life,” he said, expressing grief over the future of his infant grandson.
Police officials said preliminary investigations point to ongoing marital discord between the couple. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Lakhwinder Singh confirmed that a murder case has been registered based on the statements of the victim’s family and initial findings. “There were frequent disputes between the couple. The accused is currently absconding, and multiple teams have been formed to trace and arrest him,” he said.
