The man was found lying in a pool of blood near the Sector 19 Industrial Area underpass and his brother-in-law was found murdered a few metres away (Representational image)A family celebration in Panchkula on Friday night turned into a tragedy after a man and his brother-in-law were found murdered within hours of each other. The deceased have been identified as Sanjeet and his brother-in-law Arjun Kashyap.According to preliminary information, Sanjeet had organised a ‘Chhathi’ function in Sector 19 to celebrate the birth of his son, born six days ago, during which he picked up an argument with Kashyap, who had come for the event.According to the police, Sanjeet left for Abhaypur on some work in the midst of the event, and while returning, a group of youths allegedly started following him. Sensing danger, Sanjeet called his cousin, Vipin, and informed him. Vipin immediately alerted other family members, who set out to search for him, the police said.A short while later, Sanjeet was found lying in a pool of blood near the Sector 19 Industrial Area underpass, said an officer. His family rushed him to the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, where doctors declared him dead. Initially, the family members suspected that Kashyap had murdered Sanjeet. However, around 4 am on Saturday, the police revisited the crime scene along with Sanjeet’s family for further investigation. The case took a more complicated turn when they found Kashyap’s blood-soaked body, lying a few metres away from the same spot.‘All angles being probed’The police from the Sector 19 police post, Sector 20 police station, and the Crime Branch and forensic experts reached the spot, secured the crime scene, and shifted the bodies for post-mortem examination. Officials said the exact sequence of events and cause of death would become clearer after the post-mortem reports, while all possible angles are being examined.Officials of the Panchkula police are also looking into reports that Arjun had married Sanjeet’s sister in a love marriage a few months ago, following which relations between the two families had reportedly remained strained. The police are probing whether the earlier family dispute played any role in the fatal incident.Senior police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) visited the spot.Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram