“Indian Student Vanshika Saini, Daughter of AAP Punjab Leader, Found Dead in Canada’s Ottawa”

Vanshika Saini Found Dead in Canada’s Ottawa: 21-year-old Vanshika Saini, an Indian student who had been missing for the past three days, was found dead in Canada, the Indian Embassy in Canada confirmed on Tuesday.

According to the TOI report, Vanshika was set to appear for her IELTS examination on April 25. The family has now urged the Canadian authorities for a thorough investigation into their daughter's death.

According to the report, Vanshika had left her home on April 22 but did not return. Her friends and family members could not reach out to her as her mobile phone was switched off.

Also Read: At UN, India Slams Pakistan as ‘Rogue State’ Over Defence Minister’s Confession

“We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, a 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,” the Indian high commission in Canada posted on X.

“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,” the high commission had earlier posted.

According to the authorities, Vanshika’s body was recovered near a beach in the Canadian capital after she had been reported missing from her rented accommodation since April 22.

Vanshika’s family learned of her disappearance only on April 25, when a friend contacted them. Vanshika’s father, Davinder Saini, who is AAP’s block president and oversees the office of local MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa, immediately approached the police following which he was suggested to contact the embassy in Ottawa online and also lodge a missing report.

Also Read: Mark Carney Set for Another Term as Canada PM, Likely to Lead Minority Government

A postmortem has already been conducted in Canada, but the final report is still awaited. The cause of death remains unclear, the authorities said.

Vanshika’s family is currently working with officials to arrange for the return of her body to India. The last time they spoke to her was on April 22, after which her phone remained unreachable.

MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa, who visited the family, expressed deep sorrow over Vanshika’s death. “We are deeply saddened by Vanshika’s death. She was a topper in her school in Dera Bassi and had been doing well in Canada. Davinder is a close associate and is in-charge of my office. This is a huge loss for us too,” Hindustan Times quoted Randhawa as saying.

The MLA also confirmed that the AAP leadership has reached out to Union government officials and contacted the Indian embassy in Canada, seeking urgent assistance in repatriating Vanshika’s body. “Our party leadership has contacted the Union government and written to the concerned embassy to bring the body. The reason behind the death will be ascertained once the autopsy report is released,” the MLA said.

Also Read: Kajol Helps Anupam Kher’s Mother After She Slips on Stage During ‘Tanvi The Great’ Launch