A 24-year-old woman was stabbed to death inside the office of a private company in Mohali on Thursday evening, allegedly by a former partner and colleague who later turned the knife on himself in an apparent suicide attempt, police said.
The killing, which was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the office, has raised fresh concerns over workplace violence and crimes linked to failed relationships. Police have registered a murder case and are examining footage from the scene as part of their investigation.
The victim, identified as Dimple, a resident of Patiala, suffered multiple stab wounds and was rushed to Fortis Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The accused, Harvinder Mann alias Harry, remains in critical condition.
According to preliminary investigations, both worked for a private packers and movers company in Mohali and had known each other for nearly three years. Police said the two were previously in a relationship that had ended some time ago.
CCTV footage captures attack inside office
According to CCTV footage being examined by investigators, Harvinder entered the office around 7.40 pm on Thursday and allegedly launched the attack while Dimple was seated at her workstation.
As the woman tried to flee, the accused is seen chasing her across the office premises. Investigators said he allegedly grabbed her by the hair near the entrance and continued the assault. Several employees attempted to intervene and pull him away, but failed to stop the attack.
Police sources said the victim suffered more than 20 stab wounds. The assault continued even after she collapsed on the floor and stopped responding.
After the attack, the accused allegedly walked back towards the section of the office where Dimple had been working and turned the weapon on himself. As per reports, he repeatedly stabbed himself in the neck and throat in an apparent suicide attempt. Investigators said he inflicted dozens of injuries on himself before collapsing.
Terrified employees alerted police and emergency services, after which both the victim and the accused were taken to a nearby hospital, where Dimple was declared dead. The accused remains in critical condition.
Relationship angle under investigation
Police said the accused had reportedly been trying to reconcile with the victim after their breakup. Investigators are looking into whether an argument over their relationship immediately preceded the attack.
Aman Baidwan, Station House Officer of Phase-11 Police Station, said police received information about the incident around 7.40 pm and immediately dispatched a team to the spot.
A forensic team collected evidence from the office, and CCTV recordings have been seized for examination. Officials remained at the scene for several hours as part of the investigation.
The families of both the victim and the accused, who are from Patiala, have been informed. Police said statements of family members will be recorded as part of the probe.
The victim’s post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on Friday.