22-year-old Indian student found dead in Toronto
Toronto, June 16 (UNI) A 22-year-old Indian student from Haryana who was reported missing nearly a month ago was found dead in Toronto, according to Canadian police.
Sahil Kumar was last seen on the afternoon of May 16 near Yonge and Dundas streets in downtown Toronto. Kumar had moved to Hamilton from India in April and was set to begin a web design program at Humber College earlier this spring.
In a news release, Toronto police said Kumar's body was found on May 26 — 10 days after he went missing. While the investigation remains open, police said the case "does not appear to be a criminal matter."
A spokesperson told CBC News that no further information would be released.
Kumar's family, however, says the circumstances surrounding his death raise far more questions than answers.
"He was happy. He had no problems. He called home every day and told us he was enjoying his course," said Akshay Yadav, Kumar's uncle in India.
According to the family, Kumar spoke to his parents, brother, and grandmother on the day he went missing. "That was May 16, in the afternoon. After that, his phone was off," Yadav told CBC Hamilton.
He called his parents to say hello from the GO train. Then this international student disappeared
His roommates initially thought he may have returned home and gone to sleep. But when they realised he hadn't, they began calling and eventually filed a police report. It was issued on May 20.
"It felt like the ground had slipped from under our feet," said Yadav. "We had just spoken to him."
On May 27, they received a message confirming Kumar had been found dead in the water. His body was identified by the family overseas during a video call with police.
"We were shocked. It was impossible to believe. Sahil even knew how to swim," Yadav said. "We kept asking, 'Why would he go to the beach? What happened?' But we've gotten no clear answers."
Toronto police have not commented on the location where Kumar's body was found or the specific circumstances surrounding his death. The family says communication largely stopped after the body was recovered.
Yadav said the family has begun to reach out to other families of international students from India who also went missing recently.
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