Two separate tragic incidents took the lives of international students from India last week in Vancouver and Surrey.
Chirag Antil, who was an international student from Haryana, was fatally shot inside a car in Vancouver South in the city’s Sunset neighborhood.
“Officers were called to East 55th Avenue and Main Street around 11 p.m. on April 12 after residents heard the sound of gunshots. Chirag Antil, 24, was found deceased inside a vehicle in the area,” VPD said.
No arrests have been made in Chirag’s murder and the investigation remains ongoing. His brother Romit Antil told The Indian Express that Chirag had gone to Canada in September 2022 on a study visa and used to share an apartment with his friends. “He had recently picked up a job as a supervisor in a security agency there. I last spoke with him barely 30 minutes before he was shot dead,” Romit Antil said.
Chirag’s friends have started a fundraiser online. “If you are in Vancouver and able to offer any support or help, please reach out to us. Your help in this matter would be deeply appreciated by Chirag’s family and friends, as we work towards bringing closure and peace during this heartbreaking time. Thank you for any help you can provide,” the fundraiser mentioned.
India’s consulate in Vancouver posted on X that it “has learnt with great sorrow the shooting and killing of an Indian national, Mr Chirag Antil, living in Vancouver”, adding that it had approached the Canadian authorities for more information.
In another tragedy, a 23-year-old pedestrian died in a multi-vehicle collision in Surrey on April 12th. The police did not reveal the identity of the victim. But the pedestrian who was struck by a Mercedes GLK 250 was later identified by Canadian and Indian media as an international student from India Gursahib Singh Bath who came to Canada, just a month ago.
A GoFundMe Page has been created to raise funds to send Bath’s body back to India. The page mentions that Bath came to Canada only a month ago. According to Tribune newspaper, Bath is from Mahddipura village and his father is requesting the Central and Punjab Governments to make arrangements to bring his son’s body back to India so that his last rites can be performed.
The accident occurred at On April 12, 2024, at approximately 8:37 p.m. at 61A Avenue and 144 Street. When officers arrived on scene, they located a 23-year-old male pedestrian who had been struck by a Mercedes GLK 250. The pedestrian and the driver of the Mercedes, an adult woman, were transported to hospital.
The Surrey RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team (CCIT) and the Integrated Collision Analysis Reconstruction Services (ICARS) attended the scene and CCIT took conduct of the investigation. “The preliminary investigation has determined that in addition to the pedestrian being stuck, the Mercedes allegedly crashed into a Ford F150 that was stopped at a red light, causing it to roll over. A Porsche and Honda Civic, also stopped at the red light, sustained damages. The occupants of the other vehicles involved sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene,” said Sgt Tammy Lobb
Surrey RCMP.
“The investigation is ongoing, and speed is believed to be a contributing factor. The driver of the Mercedes has been released from hospital and is cooperating with the investigation,” Lobb added.
Anyone with information, including dash cam footage in the area on 144 Street, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 and quote file 2024-51286.
