The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed sadness on Thursday after Indian Student Killed in Canada in a shooting near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of young Indian doctoral student, Mr. Shivank Avasthi, in a shooting incident,” the Consulate said. “The Consulate is in touch with the grieving family during this difficult time and is providing all necessary help while working closely with local authorities.”
Indian Student Killed in Canada, named Mr. Shivank Avasthi
Police reported that Avasthi was shot on Tuesday in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area. Officers found him with a gunshot wound and pronounced him dead at the scene. Investigators indicated that the suspects fled before police arrived. The campus was briefly locked down as officers searched the area. This incident marked Toronto’s 41st homicide this year.
The killing has caused fear and anger among students at the University of Toronto Scarborough. In a Reddit post, a student mentioned that Shivank Avasthi, a third-year life sciences student, was shot in broad daylight inside the campus valley, an area frequently used by students and often highlighted by the university.
Murders of Indian Students has increasing in Canada
The post raised concerns about poor security, an issue students said they had raised multiple times. It also criticized the limited information released about the suspects and the motive. It show that many students now feel unsafe returning to campus, especially those attending late classes or exams.
The shooting occurred days after another violent case involving an Indian national in the city. Toronto police reported that a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman, Himanshi Khurana, was found murdered. Police are searching for Abdul Ghafoori, also from Toronto, in connection with the murder.
Police noted that the case appears to involve “intimate partner violence,” according to CBC News. In a post on X, India’s Consulate in Toronto stated that it is assisting Himanshi Khurana’s family.
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