Toronto police identified the victim as Shivank Avasthi, found with gunshot wounds in the Highland Creek Trail area around 3:30 p.m. on December 23. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Suspects fled before officers arrived, and no arrests have been made. Investigators appealed for public tips.
The University of Toronto Scarborough briefly locked down parts of the campus and issued a safety alert, closing trails in the valley area. Officials later confirmed no ongoing threat but urged vigilance.
India's Consulate General in Toronto expressed "deep anguish" over the "tragic death" of the young doctoral student. Diplomats are coordinating with local authorities and supporting Avasthi's family.
This killing follows the December 20 homicide of 30-year-old Indian national Himanshi Khurana, found dead in a downtown Toronto residence after a missing person report. Police charged her partner, 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoori, with first-degree murder in what they described as intimate partner violence. A Canada-wide warrant is active for his arrest.
Though unrelated, the back-to-back deaths have heightened anxiety among Indian students and immigrants. Many cite late-night commutes, part-time jobs in high-risk areas, and strained housing markets as vulnerabilities.
Broader context includes surging hate crimes against South Asians. Police data show incidents rose over 200% from 2019 to 2023, with online hate speech spiking 1,350% in late 2024. Resentment over rapid immigration—over 300,000 Indian students in recent peaks—fuels racism, job competition fears, and housing strains.
Diplomatic tensions over Khalistan issues have also amplified anti-Indian sentiment in some circles. Community leaders call for enhanced campus security and better hate crime reporting.
As investigations continue, the incidents underscore persistent challenges for Canada's Indian diaspora, one of the fastest-growing groups.
