Family of Ujjain student killed in Canada, seeks govt help for expenses to get mortal remains

Ujjain: The family of Gurkirat Manocha, an Ujjain student who was killed in Canada where he went for higher studies, on Tuesday sought assistance of USD40,000-USD50,000 to send two members to the foreign nation to recover the mortal remains.The demand was made in a letter handed over to chief minister Mohan Yadav, who visited their residence in Ujjain and offered floral tribute at the student's photograph.The father, Gurjit Manocha, said in the letter that a crime investigation was currently underway in Canada and that the body was unlikely to be handed over to the family until the process was complete, a wait that could take approximately three weeks.Given this situation, the family said they decided to send two members, Prabkirat Manocha, the elder brother, and Saheb Singh, a cousin, to Canada to complete the funeral process and bring back the ashes. The letter estimated the total cost of this process at approximately USD40,000 to USD50,000, which the family said they were unable to bear on their own.Through the letter, the family made the following requests to the govt: that the visa process for the two family members be expedited at the govt level and their travel and stay in Canada be arranged with govt support.The family also sought that the Indian and Canadian govts coordinate to cover the funeral and hospital expenses on humanitarian grounds. They also demanded that the deceased's education loan be waived by the concerned institutions.The chief minister, while invoking Baba Mahakal, prayed for peace for the departed soul and for the family to find the strength to bear the loss.He offered condolences to the bereaved family and directed the district collector to extend all possible assistance to them.Speaking at the Manocha residence, Yadav said that the death of a promising young student deeply saddened him. He assured the family of full support in completing the funeral formalities.