The body of 21-year-old Indian student Ms Vanshika Saini, who had been missing for four days, was discovered on a beach in Ottawa on Monday, sparking grief, outrage and demands for justice from her family and the wider Indian community in Canada.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa confirmed her death on Tuesday and stated that Canadian authorities are actively investigating the case. The cause of death remains undetermined.
“We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms Vanshika, a student from India in Ottawa. The matter has been taken up with concerned authorities and the cause is under investigation as per local police,” the High Commission said in a statement on X.
Ms Vanshika hailed from Dera Bassi in Punjab and moved to Canada two and a half years ago to pursue a diploma course, reported NDTV. She was the daughter of Devinder Singh Saini, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and close aide of Punjab MLA Kuljit Singh Randhwana.
According to family and friends, Ms Vanshika left her Ottawa residence on April 25 around 9.30pm to view a rental room. Her phone was last active around 11.40pm that night.
The next day, she missed a crucial IELTS ( International English Language Testing System) exam – something her family says was completely out of character for the diligent and ambitious student.
“We asked her flatmates and learned that she had left the house after watching IELTS prep videos,” her uncle told local media. “The phone was last located at a park near her residence. The next news we received was that her body had been found on a beach.”
The discovery has devastated her family, who are adamant that Ms Vanshika could not have died by suicide. “My Vanshika was not like this. Someone has killed her,” said her aunt Babita. “She had dreams of becoming a doctor and making a name for herself.”
The family is urging Canadian authorities to thoroughly investigate her death, including questioning those close to her and examining any possible foul play, reported Business Standard. They have also appealed to the Indian government to expedite the repatriation of her body.
Ms Vanshika’s case adds to a troubling pattern. In recent months, multiple Indian students have lost their lives in Canada under varying circumstances, including stabbings, shootings, accidents and unexplained medical conditions.
These incidents have raised concerns within the Indian diaspora, prompting community leaders and families to call for greater safety measures and support for international students in Canada.
