Truth Behind Chandigarh’s Indira Colony Teen Stabbing

Unveiling the Truth Behind Chandigarh’s Indira Colony Teen Stabbing

Devika Vishwakarma, Media & Journal Team, Budding Forensic Club

Case Overview: A Fatal Night in VIP Gali

On the night of July 5, 2025, 19-year-old Sanjeev (a resident of Rajiv Colony, Panchkula) was stabbed to death in VIP Gali (New Indira Colony) located near IT Park Chandigarh. He was attacked sometime around 10:30 PM by a group of 3-4 youth. They stabbed him multiple times, and he died shortly after arriving at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH-16).

The murder appeared to be through retaliation of stalking (of one of the suspect's sister), startled the region. Two juveniles were arrested. The case depends on forensic evidence and the use of modern criminal science practices.

Victim & Timeline

Date & Time	Event
July 5, 10:30 PM	Sanjeev is stabbed in VIP Gali, Indira Colony.
July 5, personally 10:45 PM	Local residents call police; Sanjeev is taken to GMSH-16.
July 6, Early Morning	He succumbs to his injuries; FIR is registered under IPC 302 (murder) and Arms Act.
July 6, Afternoon	Two juveniles apprehended; crime scene sealed.
July 7	Weapon suspected to be used in the murder recovered.
July 8	Forensic sampling, DNA swabs, and digital forensic analysis underway.

Forensic Analysis: Uncovering the Invisible Truth

1. Crime Scene Management and Documentation

• Within 45 minutes of being notified of the stabbing, Chandigarh Police secured the crime scene.
• The embrace team used high-resolution DSLR photography, video of the walk-through, and performed total station laser mapping of the site allowing us to digitally reconstruct the crime scene.
• Blood trails (or smear paths) were recorded for purposes of reconstructing the sequence of events depicting the attack but also where the victim collapsed.

2. Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA)

• The scene was inspected by forensic scientists and bloodstain pattern analysts. They observed arterial spray patterns on the eastern wall and cast off patterns on the ground. Also recorded were at least 5–6 rapid thrusts of the knife.
• There was also low-velocity drip stains at the corner indicating the victim had fled prior to their collapse.
• Basing information from the bloodstain pattern analysis, if the attacker approached from the left at a 45° angle with the same approach angle on the victim, it is consistent with the stab wound angles that were produced as part of the autopsy.

3. Autopsy & Sharp Force Trauma

• Conducted at GMSH-16 (a facility in Chandigarh) by a senior forensic pathologist, Dr. R. Singh.
• Observations were:
• 5 deep stab wounds (3 thoracic and 2 abdominal)
• 1080 punctured the heart and left lung at which point the internal bleeding would have been rapid
• Cut edges had clean linear edges suggesting excision from a single-edged blade with an approximate blade length of 10–12 cm.
• Through observed wound track analysis and pattern documentation force while stabbing would have been medium downward force. Be advised that plausible estimations were determined for assailants of the same and even shorter stature.

4. Recovery and Examination of the Weapon

• A bloodstained knife was discovered behind a neighbouring wall on the morning after the incident.
• Forensic methods that were utilized are as follows:
• Luminol spray verification clearly showed blood, even though an attempt had been made to clean.
• Touch DNA was retrieved from the handle using micro swabs kit.
• The blade edge was examined and recovered evidence of trace epithelial cells, fabric fibers, and kerf microscopic striation.
• The blood on the blade was preliminarily ABO tested and was confirmed to be from the victim; STR DNA confirmation awaited.

5. DNA Profiling and Biological Evidence

• The victim's clothing, suspects' clothing and seized knife were sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) based in Madhuban, Haryana.
• Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA profiling was commenced due to limited sample material.
• DNA samples were retrieved from under the nails of the victim's fingers, to enhance any defensive scratch material and to possible provide a link to the assailants; via retrieval of epidermal cells.

6. Latent Fingerprint on Recovery

• Cyanoacrylate fuming was conducted, along with ninhydrin spraying on the knife, which resulted in partial ridge details.
• Fingerprints were recovered from:
• The wall in proximity of the drop spot.
• The cell سببcell phone of the victim.
• The wallet of the victim.
• All fingerprint evidence were scanned against the juvenile fingerprint database of the juvenile crime section of the NCRB.

7. CCTV and Digital Forensics

• CCTV cameras at surrounding stores and street corners documented the events of:
• The group following Sanjeev as he entered the alley,
• The fleeing moments at 10:32pm caught on a shop's external camera.
• Investigators performed frame interpolation and AI-based facial recognition to identify key suspects, before matching subject with detained juveniles.
• The victim's mobile phone and his social media activity was forensically imaged. This allowed investigators to trace his last contacts, message exchange, and recorded threats.

8. Behaviour, and Forensic Psychology

• Residents stated that there were prior confrontations between the victim and one suspect regarding inappropriate comments made to a girl (alleged by suspects sister).
• Forensic psychologists are studying:
• The mental state of the suspects.
• Group dynamics as to whether there was a concerted attack or retaliation.
• The interviews will follow the process of the Juvenile Justice Board; including guardians, child protection officers as well as video documenting the interviews.

Legal and Procedural Oversight

• The juvenile suspects are being processed under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• Medical examinations were ordered by the court before taking DNA samples, to ensure due process was followed.
• Chain-of-custody records for all forensic samples are being documented with the use of tamper-evident kits, with video recording documentation of each step.
• Additional elements in the FIR:
• IPC Section 302 (Murder)
• Section 34 (Common Intention)
• Arms Act violations
• Statements are being taken under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate.

Community Reaction and Public Safety Measures

• Indira Colony residents have requested:
• Additional CCTV cameras.
• More night patrols.
• Youth violence awareness workshops.
• Public comments on social media are polarized, with fast arrests receiving praise, but concern remaining regarding how quickly the violence escalated among teenagers.

Conclusion: Forensics as the Backbone of Justice

The Chandigarh teen stabbing case is a prime example of the growing importance of scientific evidence in criminal justice. Despite the pandemonium of a stabbing in public and the limitations of the juvenile justice system, investigators have employed a systematic, multi-disciplinary forensic approach.

• Their current exhaustive body of work over a few days compiles blood spatter reconstruction, digital footprint analysis, DNA analysis and psychological evaluation.
• The intersection of forensic evidence, digital footprints and behavioural profiling helps build a plausible and credible account for prosecution.
• Again, if forensic results all fall together, particularly DNA from the knife, finger prints from the scene, and CCTV, this case could become an example of speedy justice through forensic patience in Canada.

References

1. The Indian Express – “Teenager stabbed to death in Chandigarh’s Indira Colony; 2 minors apprehended”
2. Hindustan Times – “Youth killed in stabbing incident in Manimajra”
3. Tribune India – “Panchkula youth stabbed to death in Indira Colony”
4. Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
5. State Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhuban – Public reporting updates