Concerns over the safety of Indian nationals in Canada have surged once again. Following the tragic murder of Himanshi Khurana, 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi lost his life in a shooting incident near the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus (UTSC). Fear and anger are palpable within the Indian community over this distressing event.
According to Toronto police, the incident occurred around 3:30 PM on Tuesday in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area. Shivank was declared dead at the scene after being shot, and the suspect fled before the authorities arrived.
The victim has been identified as Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year-old resident of Toronto. It remains unclear whether he was a student at the University of Toronto. As part of the investigation, police have released Shivank's photo and are urging the public to share any information they might have.
Source: aajtak
In response to the incident, the UTSC campus was temporarily sealed as a precaution. Students and staff were advised to stay in safe areas, and routes leading to Highland Creek Valley were closed. However, the university later clarified that there was no ongoing threat to the campus.
Senior Toronto police officer Jeff Ellington stated that there is currently no indication of a broader threat to the public. The police believe this may be an isolated incident. Previously, a 30-year-old woman of Indian origin, Himanshi Khurana, was murdered in Toronto.
The Toronto police have issued an arrest warrant against an individual known to the woman in connection with her case. This incident is reported to have occurred on December 19-20. On the night of December 19, 2025, around 10:41 PM, a missing person call was received from the Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West area. The woman's body was found inside a residence early Saturday morning around 6:30 AM, and after an initial investigation, her death was ruled a homicide.
The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana, a resident of Toronto of Indian origin. Police are searching for 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoori, who is also a Toronto resident. It is reported that the accused and victim were acquaintances with a close relationship.
According to police statistics, this case marks Toronto's 41st homicide in 2025. The repeated nature of such incidents is raising concerns about the safety of Indians residing in Canada.
