The Consulate General of India in Toronto has expressed “deep anguish” over the killing of an Indian student in a shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, underscoring growing concern within the Indian community following a series of violent crimes in the Canadian city.

In a statement issued on Thursday (local time), the Consulate confirmed that it was in close contact with the family of the victim and was providing all necessary assistance in coordination with local Canadian authorities. The reaction came after Toronto Police announced earlier this week that an Indian student had died after being shot in the city’s eastern part.

The victim was identified as Shivank Avasthi, an Indian national pursuing doctoral studies. According to police, the shooting took place in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area, not far from the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. Officers said they were alerted to the incident on Tuesday and rushed to the scene, where they found Avasthi suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the spot.

“We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Mr Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus,” the Consulate General said in a post on X. “The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time, and is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with the local authorities.”

Toronto Police said the suspects involved in the shooting fled the area before officers arrived. A probe was launched immediately, and the university campus was placed under lockdown for a period as a precautionary measure while investigators secured the scene and gathered evidence. As of the latest update, no arrests had been announced in connection with the case.

Local media reports described the killing as Toronto’s 41st homicide of the year. The Toronto Sun noted that it was also the second death of an Indian national in the city due to violent crime in a matter of days, intensifying anxieties among international students and members of the Indian diaspora.

The killing of Avasthi follows closely on the heels of another shocking incident involving an Indian-origin woman in Toronto. Earlier this week, police confirmed that a 30-year-old woman of Indian origin had been found murdered, prompting them to issue a Canada-wide arrest warrant for a suspect believed to be known to the victim.

The deceased woman was identified as Himanshi Khurana, a resident of Toronto. According to police, investigators are searching for a 32-year-old Toronto-based man, identified as Abdul Ghafoori, in connection with the killing. Law enforcement officials said preliminary findings suggest the case may involve intimate partner violence, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Canada’s public broadcaster CBC News reported that police believe the suspect and the victim shared a personal relationship, and authorities have urged members of the public to come forward with any information that could help locate the accused.

Reacting to Khurana’s death, the Indian Consulate in Toronto issued a separate statement on Wednesday, expressing deep shock and sorrow. “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the murder of Ms Himanshi Khurana, a young Indian national, in Toronto,” the Consulate said in a post on X, extending its condolences to her family during what it described as a moment of “profound grief.”

The Consulate added that it had been closely following the case over the past several days and was extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family, again in close coordination with Canadian authorities as the investigation continues.

The two incidents, occurring within a short span, have cast a spotlight on safety concerns affecting international students and immigrants in Toronto, one of Canada’s most diverse cities and a major destination for Indian students. Thousands of Indian nationals travel to Canada each year for higher education, drawn by its universities, post-study work opportunities, and immigration pathways.

While Canadian authorities have maintained that both cases are under active investigation, community leaders and student groups have called for greater engagement between law enforcement, educational institutions, and consular officials to address safety concerns and provide reassurance to affected communities.

For now, the Indian Consulate has reiterated its commitment to supporting the families of the victims and ensuring that they receive all possible assistance, while closely monitoring developments in both cases. As investigations continue, the deaths of Shivank Avasthi and Himanshi Khurana have left the Indian community in Toronto grappling with grief, shock, and pressing questions about security and justice.