An Indian postgraduate student from Ludhiana, Punjab, who had gone to Canada for higher education four months ago, was stabbed to death in a rented house on Queen Street in Sarnia, Ontario on December 1.
The deceased, 22-year-old Gurasis Singh, was pursuing his Masters in Business from Lambton College in Canada after graduating from Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) in Ludhiana.
Sarnia police in Canada said in a statement that the suspect, identified as Crosley Hunter, 36, “shared space” with Singh at 194 Queen Street in Sarnia and allegedly stabbed him multiple times with a knife. A fight between the two residents in the kitchen.”
Police said Hunter has been charged with second-degree murder, adding that “at this time, the crime does not appear to be racially motivated.”
However, Singh’s father Charanjit Singh, 52, told The Indian Express that his son was “killed in his sleep” and suspected that he was under the influence of the alleged drug. Charanjit Singh, who runs a packaging material manufacturing unit in Ludhiana, said they got him medically examined.
“A few hours before our son was brutally murdered, he had spoken to us and was very happy. He told us that he would call us to Canada soon and we would be together again as a family. He used to go to college and prepare meals at night. Hours before he was killed in his sleep. He also had a long conversation with his mother,’ he said.
Gurasis Singh’s parents and younger brother Manraj Singh study in Ludhiana. The family lives in Ludhiana Phase-7, Focal Point, Chandigarh Road.
Family members said the accused lived in neighboring rooms in the apartment and the two men only shared a common kitchen.
“In his initial statement to the police, the accused had said that he had stabbed my son in self-defence but later the police found that he had killed him in his sleep. It is suspected that some of the accused are under the influence of drugs, but only the police can clarify,’ Charanjit Singh said.
Shocked by the news of Gurassis’ death, she admitted her mother to the hospital. “She’s still not talking,” said Charanjeet.
The family has appealed to the central government to bring the son’s body to Punjab for last rites and has asked them to provide financial support as they have saved all their money to send the son to Canada.
Meanwhile, Lambton College, where Gurassi studied, said it was in contact with the student’s family and was working on funeral arrangements and repatriation. Students and other local community members have also started an online fundraiser to help the family financially.
Referring to the recent changes in India-Canada relations, Charanjit said, “As the police investigation is ongoing, I cannot say whether my son was targeted because of his citizenship. We have full faith in the Canadian police and judicial system. I am confident that my son will get justice.”
In their statement, Sarnia Police said that the stabbing occurred at 4:59 a.m. on Sunday, December 1.
In another statement, the Canadian Police’s Criminal Investigation Division is gathering evidence “to determine the circumstances surrounding this criminal act.”