This ghastly incident has sent a shock wave of sorrow throughout the Indian community in Canada, underscoring the steep escalation in violent crimes and safety concerns of students and residents alike.
Harsimrat Randhawa, an innocent onlooker, was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout between two cars in Hamilton, Ontario.
Her untimely death is the fourth similar loss of an Indian citizen in Canada in a span of four months, emphasizing an increasing trend of violence.
Randhawa, a Mohawk College student aged 21, was at a bus stop on her way to work when the shooting took place. Hamilton Police said she was discovered with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital, but she died. Surveillance showed that the shooting was between a passenger from a black car and a white sedan, and bullets from the shooting also hit a nearby residential window.
India's Consulate General in Toronto conveyed its sympathies and promised support to Randhawa's family while ascertaining that she was an innocent bystander who got caught in the crossfire. The police have initiated an investigation into her homicide.
This incident comes hot on the heels of three other Indians being killed in Canada over the last few months, including
Gurasis Singh, a 22-year-old postgraduate from Punjab, who was stabbed to death inside his rented house on December 1, 2024.
Rittika Rajput, a 22-year-old Punjabi student from India, who died after a tree collapsed on her while she was out with friends having a bonfire on December 6, 2024.
Harshandeep Singh, a 20-year-old Indian-origin male employed as a security guard, who was shot dead by a gang in Edmonton on December 6, 2024.
India has called on its citizens to be on guard following these senseless deaths, and fears regarding increasing hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada are becoming a matter of intense discussion. The Consulate is engaging closely with the local authorities to ensure justice and assist the victim families.
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