Ottawa/New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) A 21-year-old Indian student in Ottawa, Canada, the daughter of an AAP leader from Punjab, has been found dead.
Vanshika Saini, the daughter of AAP leader Davinder Saini, was from Dera Bassi in Punjab. She had gone missing since April 25. Her body was found on the beach near her college.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa said on X that the matter is under investigation.
“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.
“A massive search effort had been underway since the student, Vanshika, went missing on April 25.”
Earlier, the HCI posted about her going missing.
“HCI Ottawa is in touch with local partner Indo Canadian community associations and concerned authorities regarding a missing person alert for an Indian student in Ottawa. If any one has any information, please provide the same to the contacts as given below”, it said with links to its facebook page.
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar, condoled the death on X:
“Deeply saddened by the tragic and mysterious death of Vanshika Saini a bright student from Derabassi, Punjab, found dead in Ottawa. My thoughts are with her family, especially her father Mr Devinder Singh ji of @AamAadmiParty.
“Urging @HCI_Ottawa & Canadian authorities for a thorough, transparent investigation.”
Vanshika had been studying in Ottawa for the past two and a half years.
A grieving Davinder Saini, an aide to AAP MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa, told the media:
"My daughter Vanshika went to Ottawa in 2023... She wanted to win big in life... The last I talked to her was on 25 April when she was on her way to work... On the morning of 26 April, I received a message that she has gone missing... She was preparing for her IELTS exam.”
According to reports, she had left her residence at 7 Majestic Drive between 8 and 9 pm to check out a rental room. Her phone was reportedly switched off by 11:40 pm the same night.
Alarm bells were raised the next day when she failed to show up for the IELTS examination.
Worried by her sudden disappearance, the Hindu community in Ottawa wrote a formal letter to the Ottawa Police urging immediate intervention.
Vanshika had left for Canada after completing her Class 12. She had finished her final examinations on April 18 and was pursuing a part-time job at a call center in Ottawa.
UNI RN