Safety of Indian students and immigrants in Canada is under heightened scrutiny following a series of tragic incidents in recent times. Four Indian nationals have lost their lives under alarming circumstances, raising concerns within the community and among families back home.
The latest involves a 21-year-old student Harsimrat Randhawa at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. She was waiting at a bus stop when she was reportedly caught in the crossfire of a violent confrontation between two groups. A news report claims she was on her way to work.
According to a local law enforcement report, a shootout erupted between two vehicles nearby. Randhawa was struck by a stray bullet during the altercation.
The Hamilton Police said the shooting happened near Upper James and South Bend Road streets. Randhawa was found with a gunshot wound to her chest. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but it was too late.
Surveillance footage from the scene captured a passenger in a black vehicle firing at individuals inside a white sedan, with both cars fleeing immediately after the exchange. Police reported that stray bullets from the incident also struck a nearby home’s window, though fortunately, no additional injuries were reported.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa… As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance,” The Consulate General of India in Toronto tweeted.
A series of tragic events involving Indian nationals has understandably intensified concerns about the safety of Indian nationals there.
Gurasis Singh, a 22-year-old postgraduate student from Ludhiana, Punjab, was fatally murdered at his rental home on December 1, 2024.
Rittika Rajput, a 22-year-old Indian student from Punjab, also perished when a tree collapsed on her when she and her companions were enjoying a late-night bonfire. Police said that they were investigating what happened.
A gang in Edmonton shot and killed Harshandeep Singh, a 20-year-old man of Indian descent who was employed as a security guard, on December 6.
