I want her final rites to happen in India: Father of 22-year-old Indian student Vidhi Megha killed in Canada's Niagara region
Borsad, May 28
The father of 22-year-old Indian student Vidhi Megha, who was stabbed to death in Canada's Niagara region, has urged the government to repatriate her mortal remains to India for her final rites.
Vidhi Megha, a resident of Borsad in Gujarat, was killed on May 15 in St. Catharines in the Niagara region of Canada and was reportedly attacked with a knife in a suspected homicide incident.
"My daughter is 22 years old; the incident happened in St Catharines in Canada's Niagara region. She was attacked with a knife," her father, Kalpeshbhai Medha, said on Thursday.
"My request to the government is that we must perform my daughter's final rites right here in India; therefore, please provide us with the body as soon as possible and send it here," he added.
Kalpeshbhai said he received information about his daughter's death from the police on Wednesday and has contacted relatives in Canada to initiate the required proceedings to get her body back home.
"I received information from the police station yesterday. I sent an email to my relatives who are over there, and they initiated the necessary proceedings from that end," he said.
According to her father, Vidhi Megha had gone to Canada to study business management and had completed her three-year course. She later enrolled in a Personal Support Worker (PSW) Honours course.
Kalpeshbhai Megha further stated that Gujarat Cabinet Minister and BJP MLA from Borsad, Ramanbhai Solanki, had also visited the family on Thursday morning.
"My daughter had gone there to study business management, and her 3-year course has been completed. She then pursued a PSW (Personal Support Worker) Honours course. My brother-in-law lives there," he said.
Speaking to reporters on the incident, Solanki said that he had spoken with both the CMO and the PMO to ensure her body is returned without further delay.
"I learned only last night about the killing of Vidhi Megha, the daughter of our Borsad. This morning, I went to meet her family members. I empathised with their grief and anguish, offered them my condolences, and conveyed their demand to the government: that the daughter's mortal remains be handed over to her family members as soon as possible," Solanki said.
"I have spoken with both the CMO and the PMO regarding this matter to ensure that her body is returned to her family members without any further delay," he added.
Earlier on May 15, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) in a release stated that its officers responded to a call to a residence near Lakeshore Road and Lake Street in St Catharines after reports of two people without vital signs.
They stated that an adult female was found deceased inside the residence, while an adult male was transported to a local hospital with injuries expected to be non-life-threatening.
Following this, the NRPS Homicide Unit took over the investigation and arrested 40-year-old Joshua St Omer on May 18.
He has been charged with second-degree murder and remains in custody, another release stated.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So sad to see another Indian student's life cut short abroad. She went there to build a future and this happens. The minister has assured help but we need faster coordination between Indian consulate and Canadian authorities. Every day matters for the grieving family.
This is terrible news. But I also want to ask - why do we romanticise going abroad so much? Not everyone's experience is rosy. Students need better support systems and safety awareness when studying in foreign countries. We've seen too many such cases recently 😔
Can't imagine what the father must be going through. He sent his daughter with dreams of a bright future and now has to arrange for her final rites. The Gujarat government should also provide financial assistance to the family. Our prayers are with them. 🙏
While I sympathise with the family, I'm also frustrated with our system. Why does it take political intervention for basic processes like repatriation of mortal remains? Every Indian citizen should get this help without having to depend on MLA connections. Just saying.
'She was attacked with a knife' - These words are so chilling. A 22-year-old girl, her whole life ahead of her. And the accused is 40 years old! What happened to her? We need more details from Canadian authorities. Young women travelling alone need to be extra careful. Stay safe everyone.
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