An Indian PhD student has been shot dead near the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus in Canada, police said.
The victim, identified as Shivank Avasthi, 20, was found with gunshot wounds near the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area on Tuesday afternoon.
Police pronounced him dead at the scene.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Toronto Police said officers went to the area at around 3.34pm local time after receiving reports of an “unknown incident”. They found a critically injured young man who had been shot.
Police said the suspect or suspects fled before officers arrived. They have sought public assistance to identify and arrest those responsible.
Authorities said the killing marked Toronto’s 41st homicide of the year.
India expressed deep sorrow over the death. The Consulate General of India in Toronto said it was in contact with Avasthi’s family and was providing all necessary assistance.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of young Indian PhD student Shivank Avasthi, who was shot near the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus,” the consulate said in a statement posted on X. “We are in close touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time and are coordinating closely with local authorities to extend all possible support.”
The killing comes days after another Indian national was murdered in Toronto. Last week, the body of 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana was recovered from a house near Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street, a day after her family reported her missing.
Police later issued an arrest warrant against Abdul Ghaffuri, 32, a Toronto resident, in connection with Khurana’s murder. Media reports said Khurana and Ghaffuri were partners.
The Indian consulate also expressed grief over Khurana’s death and said it was assisting her family while closely coordinating with Canadian authorities.
