Latest news with #OttawaIndo-CanadiansAssociation
Ottawa Citizen
05-05-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Stop spreading 'unverified details' about Vanshika Saini's death, family says
Vanshika Saini's family is urging people to stop sharing 'unverified details' about their daughter's death, saying only the immediate family is receiving updates and speaking with investigators. Article content Article content Saini's body was found on April 27 at Dick Bell Park on Carling Avenue, one day after the Ottawa Indo-Canadians Association put out a missing person alert on their Facebook group. According to the post, Saini left her residence at around 8 p.m. on the evening of the April 25 to look for a room for rent and did not return home. Her phone was switched off and she missed an important exam that day, which the group said was very unusual for her. Article content Article content In an email exchange with the Ottawa Citizen on May 2, police said the investigation is still ongoing and 'there is no evidence of foul play at this time.' Article content Article content Saini was 21 years old. Article content 'We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved daughter, Vanshika. She was a bright light in our lives — kind, compassionate, and full of potential. Her absence leaves a void that can never be filled. We will carry her in our hearts always,' a statement sent by the Ottawa Police Service on behalf of Saini's family read. Article content 'From the earliest moments of her disappearance, the Ottawa Police Service has been in regular and consistent contact with our immediate family. We are grateful for the compassion, dedication and sensitivity they have shown, and we are satisfied with the communication and updates we have received throughout this incredibly difficult time.' Article content Her death sent shockwaves through the Indian community. The High Commission of India in Ottawa said in a tweet on April 28 that they were informed of her death and have reached out to her family and local community associations to provide 'all possible assistance.' Article content Article content A vigil commemorating Saini was also held Sunday afternoon at Dick Bell Park. Article content Article content Saini's parents have previously expressed concerns to Indian media and the CBC about delays in the process and asked for official intervention. They were also looking at ways to repatriate her body back to India. Article content 'She was preparing for her IELTS exam scheduled for 26 April. I want the Indian government to talk to Canadian authorities and speed up the process of bringing her body back. I also demand a proper investigation to be carried out,' her father, Davinder Saini, said, according to reporting from the Times of India. Article content 'To help clarify how missing person reports are reviewed, the OPS follows a structured process to evaluate risk and determine the appropriate investigative response. This includes considering a range of factors such as age, medical or mental health needs, and any signs that the individual may be in immediate danger,' the statement read.
Mint
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Indian student Vanshika Saini found dead in Canada, police investigation on, Embassy says ‘in close contact…'
An Indian student Vanshika Saini, who had gone missing in the province of Ottawa, has been found dead, according to the Indian High Commission in Canada. No details about how she died were available at time of writing. In a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by the official Embassy account on April 29, it said: 'We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, student from India in Ottawa. The matter has been taken up with concerned authorities and the cause is under investigation as per local police. We are in close contact with the bereaved kin and local community associations to provide all possible assistance. (sic)' According to a Facebook post by the Ottawa Indo-Canadians Association (OICA), Vanshika Saini had left her house at around 8-9 pm on April 25, to look for rental rooms and did not return home. 'Her phone has been switched off, and she missed an important exam today, which is very unusual for her. Vanshika is usually in regular contact with her family and friends every morning, but since last night, no one has heard from her. All her friends are unaware of her current location,' the post added. It further solicited information from anyone with knowledge via email and phone number. According to reports, Vanshika Saini was 21-years-old, and had moved to Canada around two and a half years ago for a two-year health diploma course after completing Class XII in her home town. She was through her final exams on April 18 and started working part-time with a call centre in Ottawa. She is reportedly the daughter of Davinder Saini, a local Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, bloc president, and party MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa's close aide incharge of his office. He resides at Saini Mohalla, Dera Bassi — a satellite city of Chandigarh and a municipal council in Mohali district, Punjab. Davinder reportedly suspects foul play in his daughter's death and came to know of her disappearance on April 25 when her friend got in touch with the family. He last spoke to Vanshika on April 22, after which her phone had been switched off. Earlier on April 16, 21-year-old Harsimrat Randhawa, a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario was killed by a stray bullet while waiting at a bus stop, and shots were fired from a passing car, PTI reported. Harsimrat Randhawa was hit in the chest and rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed, it added. The Punjab native was on her way to work when the incident happened. During investigations, Hamilton Police called her an innocent bystander affected by the shooting incident near Upper James and South Bend Road streets at around 7.30 pm local time.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Who was Vanshika Saini? 21-year-old Indian student found dead at Ottawa beach in Canada
A 21-year-old Indian student from Dera Bassi, Punjab, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a beach in Ottawa, Canada. The deceased, identified as Vanshika Saini , was the daughter of Davinder Saini, an aide to AAP MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa, and had been studying in Ottawa for the past two and a half years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her body was found on an Ottawa beach, with authorities yet to determine the precise cause of death as investigations are underway. The Ottawa Indo-Canadians Association (OICA) issued a missing person alert for Vanshika in a Facebook post on Sunday. Who was Vanshika Saini? Vanshika moved to Canada after finishing Class XII to pursue a two-year diploma course and had been studying there for the past two and a half years. She had completed her final examinations on April 18 and had begun working part-time. On April 22, she went for work but never returned home. Vanshika was due to take an IELTS examination on April 25. When her friends attempted to check on her after the exam, they learnt she had been absent for three days. All attempts to contact her proved futile as her mobile phone remained switched off. Alarmed by her disappearance, Vanshika's friends informed local authorities and reached out to the Indian community, leading to a search operation by local officials and the Indian High Commission. Her family in India strongly believes there was foul play involved and maintains she was murdered. They are requesting Canadian authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into her death.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Indian Express
4 days after she went missing, Indian student found dead in Canada; police probe on, says Embassy
An Indian student, missing for the past four days, was found dead in Ottawa, the Indian High Commission in Canada confirmed on Tuesday. An extensive search operation was underway after Vanshika went missing on April 25. On Monday, the Indian Embassy said that it was in touch with local Indo Canadian community associations and concerned authorities. We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, student from India in Ottawa. The matter has been taken up with concerned authorities and the cause is under investigation as per local police. We are in close contact with the bereaved kin and local community… — India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) April 28, 2025 A day later, the Embassy, in a post on X informed: 'We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, 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 Ottawa Indo-Canadians Association (OICA), in a Facebook post on Sunday, made a missing person alert for Vanshika. It said that she left her house around between 8 and 9 pm on Friday (April 25) to look for a room to rent and was missing since. 'Her phone has been switched off, and she missed an important exam today, which is very unusual for her,' the post read.
Mint
29-04-2025
- Mint
Indian student Vanshika found dead in Canada, police investigation on, Embassy says ‘in close contact…'
An Indian student Vanshika, who had gone missing in the province of Ottawa, has been found dead, according to the Indian High Commission in Canada. No details about how she died were available at time of writing. In a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by the official Embassy account on April 29, it said: 'We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, student from India in Ottawa. The matter has been taken up with concerned authorities and the cause is under investigation as per local police. We are in close contact with the bereaved kin and local community associations to provide all possible assistance. (sic)' According to a Facebook post by the Ottawa Indo-Canadians Association (OICA), Vanshika had left her house at around 8-9 pm on April 25, to look for rental rooms and did not return home. 'Her phone has been switched off, and she missed an important exam today, which is very unusual for her. Vanshika is usually in regular contact with her family and friends every morning, but since last night, no one has heard from her. All her friends are unaware of her current location,' the post added. It further solicited information from anyone with knowledge via email and phone number. More details are awaited. (This is a breaking story, more updates coming…) First Published: 29 Apr 2025, 07:09 AM IST
