Two Indian students were found murdered in separate incidents in Toronto within a span of two weeks, sparking shock across the Indian community in Canada and renewed calls for better safety measures for international students. The victims were identified as Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year-old life sciences student at the University of Toronto, and Himanshi Khurana, 30, who had recently moved to Canada for higher studies.

On December 23, Toronto Police responded to multiple reports of gunfire near the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus. Shivank Avasthi was found with fatal gunshot wounds near Old Kingston Road and Highland Creek Trail. He was pronounced dead on the scene before emergency services could intervene.

Investigators believe Avasthi may have been targeted, though details about the motive remain unclear. The assailants fled before police arrived, and the case has since been classified as the city’s 41st homicide of 2025. The Indian Consulate General in Toronto expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed ongoing coordination with local authorities and the victim’s family in India.

Just days earlier, on December 20, Himanshi Khurana was discovered dead inside a residential apartment in Toronto after being reported missing a day prior. Police later confirmed that 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoori, known to the victim, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Investigators suspect intimate partner violence led to the killing, making it Toronto’s 40th homicide this year. The Indian consulate extended condolences to her family and offered consular assistance.

The back-to-back tragedies have intensified safety concerns among the nearly 300,000 Indian students in Canada. Student groups and community leaders are urging newcomers to stay vigilant and stay in touch with local Indian associations and the consulate for support. Officials from the Indian government have requested Canadian authorities to ensure a fair and swift investigation in both cases, emphasizing the importance of international student safety. As investigations continue, both families — one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Punjab — await justice for their loved ones whose Canadian dream turned into a nightmare.