Ujjain youth dies after assault during dispute in Canada; family seeks help to bring body home

UJJAIN: A 26-year-old student from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh died in Canada after he was allegedly assaulted during a dispute among students near Fort St. John in British Columbia earlier this month, according to his family.

The victim, Gurkirat Singh Manocha, a resident of Parshwanath City on Dewas Road in Ujjain, had gone to Canada about 15 months ago to pursue higher studies. He was enrolled in a post-degree diploma programme in business management at Northern Lights College in Fort St. John.

"We were alerted by the media regarding the death of an Ujjain native in Canada. Authorities have been sent to the family's home in Ujjain to collect formal details and offer assistance in investigating the matter," said Ujjain collector Roshan Kumar Singh.

Meanwhile family members of the deceased said the incident took place on March 14 near Charlie Lake, where Gurkirat reportedly had a dispute with a group of youths. He sustained serious injuries in the attack and later died. The family first came to know about the incident through other Indian students in Canada who contacted them on social media and later confirmed the information over a phone call.

Gurkirat's brother, Prabkirat Singh Manocha, who lives in Raipur, said the family received the information late at night from one of Gurkirat's friends in Canada.

"A friend of my brother called late at night and informed me about the attack. Later we received confirmation from his friends about what had happened," Prabkirat told TOI.

"Police in Canada are investigating the case. They even sent us a photograph for identification and are keeping us informed about the process. We want our brother's body to be brought back to India so that we can perform his last rites in Ujjain," he said.

Gurkirat's father, Gurjeet Singh Manocha, runs an FMCG business in Ujjain. Gurkirat was unmarried and had gone abroad for higher education after completing his studies in India.