Toronto Records 41st Homicide of 2025 as Indian Student Shivank Avasthi Gunned Down.

Second Indian National Killed in Toronto in Just Three Days, Diaspora Safety Sparks Serious Alarm.

The fatal shooting of 20-year-old Indian student Shivank Avasthi in Toronto has triggered a major security alert and intensified concerns over a disturbing rise in violence affecting the Indian community in Canada. Avasthi, a third-year Life Sciences student at the University Of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and a member of the university’s cheerleading team, was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon, December 23, near the Highland Creek Trail close to Old Kingston Road, a popular pathway frequently used by students, at around 3:34 pm. The assailant fled the scene before police arrived, and authorities have so far released no suspect description, leaving the investigation wide open. 

Following the incident, the UTSC campus was briefly placed under a shelter-in-place lockdown, while students voiced anger and fear on social media platforms, particularly Reddit, alleging poor lighting, inadequate surveillance and weak security measures in the valley area where the shooting occurred.

The killing of Avasthi marks Toronto’s 41st homicide of 2025 and is the second high-profile murder of an Indian national in the city within just three days, after the death of 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana, who was found dead on December 20 at a residence near Strachan Avenue; police in that case have issued a Canada-wide warrant for Abdul Ghafoori on charges of first-degree murder, treating it as a case of intimate partner violence.

According to community groups and preliminary data compiled from official reports, nearly 41 Indian nationals and students have lost their lives across Canada in 2025 due to violent crimes, accidents or medical emergencies, with a worrying spike in shootings and stabbings reported in major urban centres.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto has expressed deep anguish over both deaths and confirmed that it is in close contact with Canadian authorities, while also coordinating with the families of the victims to provide legal assistance and facilitate the repatriation of mortal remains. Indian officials have once again raised serious concerns about the safety and security of the nearly 1.3 million-strong Indian diaspora in Canada, particularly international students, urging stronger policing, improved campus security and urgent preventive measures amid growing unease within the community.