A 22-year-old student from Borsad in Anand district, Gujarat, was stabbed to death in Canada's Niagara region, near the US border. The incident has heightened fears about the safety of Indian students abroad and plunged her family into deep grief.
Victim's Background and Tragic Incident
Vidhi Kalpesh Megha had been living in Canada for four years, pursuing higher education while working part-time. She was preparing to apply for Canadian permanent residency when her life was tragically cut short. According to her family, Vidhi last spoke to her father on May 14, mentioning her plans to apply for PR. The next day, she left her residence and went missing.
Her body was later discovered in the Niagara region of Ontario. Canadian authorities confirmed that she had been killed in a knife attack. Sources revealed that Vidhi had moved from Hamilton to St Catharines in Ontario just 10 days prior to the incident.
Family's Ordeal and Delayed Notification
Family members in Borsad stated that they remained unaware of the killing for 12 days. Messages sent to Vidhi after May 15 were not delivered, raising alarm among relatives. The delay deepened the family's trauma. Vidhi's father, Kalpesh Megha, said that Borsad police informed him of the murder on Wednesday.
"We last spoke to her on May 14. After that, we could not contact her. We have not even been able to see her face," a grieving family member expressed. Vidhi had an uncle in Canada but had been living separately for the past one-and-a-half years. Her younger brother, Rudra, resides with the family in Borsad.
Community Reaction and Government Response
News of the killing cast a pall over the town, with neighbors and relatives gathering at the family residence. Vidhi's mother, Vaishali Megha, was inconsolable, while several relatives broke down repeatedly. Her aunt, Snehal Megha, appealed to the government to ensure that Vidhi's mortal remains are brought back to India at the earliest.
Gujarat cabinet minister and Borsad MLA Raman Solanki visited the family and assured them that the state government is making all possible efforts to speed up the repatriation of her remains.
Investigation and Arrest
Canadian police registered a case of murder and launched an investigation. They are searching for the attacker and probing the motive. Vidhi's father stated that one person, a drug addict with a prior murder case, has been arrested. The killing has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in Canada and across Gujarat, reigniting concerns about the safety of Indian students abroad.
