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21-year-old Vanshika Saini, an Indian student in Canada, was found dead in Ottawa.
A day after the body of 21-year-old Vanshika Saini was found in Canada’s Ottawa, her father, an Aam Aadmi Party leader based in Punjab said that he wants the Indian government to intervene and bring his daughter’s body back home. Saini’s body was found near a beach in Ottawa under mysterious circumstances. She was missing since 22 April, according to a report in TheTimes of India.
Saini, 21, had moved from Dera Bassi, Punjab, to Ottawa in 2023. She had recently completed her diploma in health studies and was preparing for her IELTS exam scheduled on April 25. She had also just started working at a private clinic. Her father, Davinder Saini, shared that she "wanted to win something big in life." That's why she left home and went to Canada, determined to carve out her own path.
#WATCH | Punjab: 20-year-old daughter of Aam Aadmi Party leader from Mohali's Derabassi, who went to Canada to study, dies.
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025
Davinder Saini, father of the deceased, says, "My daughter Vanshika went to Ottawa in 2023... She wanted to win big in life... The last I talked to her was… pic.twitter.com/MIiRVdVZyV
The Day Of Disappearance
On April 22, Vanshika stepped out of her home in Ottawa, apparently to meet someone or view a potential place to rent. After that, she went silent. Her phone was switched off. Her friends, who expected her to appear for her IELTS exam on April 25, were confused and worried when she didn't show up. Seven days later, on April 29, Vanshika's body was found on a beach near Ottawa. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. There has been no public statement confirming the exact cause of death. The news sent shockwaves through both the Indian student community in Canada and her hometown.
Family Denies Suicide
Her father has publicly rejected the idea that she took her own life. "She dreamed of achieving big things," he said. "She was excited about her job, her future, and everything that was coming next." According to him, Vanshika had even booked tickets for her IELTS test and was preparing for further education.
The family is demanding a full and transparent investigation. They believe there could be something more behind her death and want the authorities to look beyond surface-level assumptions.
Indian Officials Respond
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa confirmed Vanshika's death and stated they were in touch with the family and Canadian police. Efforts are being made to repatriate her body to India.
We are deeply saddened to be informed of the death of Ms. Vanshika, student from India in Ottawa. The matter has been taken up with concerned authorities and the cause is under investigation as per local police. We are in close contact with the bereaved kin and local community… https://t.co/7f4v8uGtuk
— India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) April 28, 2025