The Indian Consulate in Toronto has expressed “deep anguish” over the killing of an Indian student in a shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, an incident that has shocked the Indian community in Canada and back home.
According to Toronto Police, the victim, identified as Shivank Avasthi, an Indian doctoral student, was found with a gunshot wound near the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the suspects fled before officers arrived, and the nearby campus area was temporarily placed under lockdown as part of the investigation.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, the Consulate General of India in Toronto said it was in close contact with the victim’s family and local authorities. “We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Mr Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. The Consulate is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with local authorities during this difficult time,” the statement read.
The incident marks Toronto’s 41st homicide of the year, according to local media reports. It is also the second case in recent days involving the death of an Indian national in the city due to violent crime, raising concerns among the Indian diaspora.
Earlier this week, Toronto Police confirmed the murder of Himanshi Khurana, a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman. Investigators have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for a suspect known to the victim, describing the case as one involving alleged intimate partner violence. The Indian Consulate had also expressed deep shock and sorrow over her death.
As investigations continue in both cases, the Consulate has reiterated its commitment to supporting the bereaved families and ensuring close coordination with Canadian authorities. The incidents have renewed calls for stronger community safety measures and swift justice.
