A 23-year-old Indian student studying in Canada has died after an alleged assault involving a group of youths in the city of Fort St. John, leaving his family in India mourning and seeking help to bring his body home.
Gurkirat Singh Manocha, originally from Ujjain in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, was reportedly attacked late on March 14. According to family members, he was severely beaten during an altercation and was later allegedly run over by a vehicle. He was taken to hospital with critical injuries but was later pronounced dead.
Manocha had moved to Canada just over a year ago to pursue higher education at Northern Lights College, where he was studying for a postgraduate diploma in business management.
His family said he was also working part-time at a local retail store while continuing his studies, a common arrangement among many international students seeking to support themselves while studying abroad.
According to relatives, Manocha had finished his shift at work on the night of the incident when he reportedly left with several students from his college. It is believed that a dispute among a group of youths escalated into violence and that Manocha became involved in the confrontation.
Family members say they were told that around 10 to 12 people were involved in the incident. They added that police initially detained some suspects but that those individuals were later released after legal representation arrived.
Authorities in Canada later confirmed Manocha’s identity at the hospital. Police are currently awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination before further legal steps are taken in the investigation.
The tragedy has deeply affected his family in India, who said they first learned of the incident through a late-night phone call from one of his friends in Canada. Manocha’s brother described the news as devastating and said the family is struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.
Officials in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, expressed condolences to the family and described the incident as deeply tragic.
Efforts are now underway to repatriate Manocha’s remains to India. His family said the process could take several weeks due to legal and administrative procedures and has appealed for assistance to help expedite the arrangements.
Relatives say Manocha last spoke with his father just a day before the incident in what they described as a normal conversation. He had discussed everyday matters and his routine, unaware that it would be their final exchange.
Back in Ujjain, family members, friends and neighbours have gathered at the Manocha family home to offer condolences as the community mourns the loss of a young man who had travelled abroad in pursuit of education and opportunity.