Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa, a 21-year-old Indian student, was shot dead in a crossfire incident in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday night. While waiting at a bus stop on her way to work, she received a stray bullet during a shootout between two groups. Her sudden death has devastated her family in Punjab, who have been calling for the Indian government to speed up the process of bringing her body back home and are demanding someone be held accountable for her death. 

‘She had gone to Canada about two years ago for her studies and was heading out for her daily routine when the incident occurred. During a clash between two groups, gunfire erupted, and she was struck by a bullet, leading to her death,’ the family said. 

What Happened

Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa from Dhunda village in Tarn Taran District, Punjab, had gone to Canada nearly two years ago for education. She was a student of Mohawk College in Hamilton and had been leading a regular student life. On that day, while on her way to work, she happened to run into a violent crossfire that was taking place between two sets of moving vehicles.

The Hamilton police heard reports of gunfire around 7:30 p.m. in the neighbourhood areas of Upper James Street and South Bend Road. When officers arrived, they found Randhawa suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died shortly.

After initial investigation and review of the footage, police said that the drivers of a white sedan had been fired upon from a black vehicle. The black vehicle fled and the white one followed. The bullets from the incident shattered the rear window of a house up the block, where residents were sitting down to watch TV. Fortunately, no one inside the house was harmed. 

Canadian authorities have launched a homicide investigation and are seeking assistance from the public. They have requested that anyone who can provide dashcam or security footage from areas covering Upper James Street and South Bend Road from 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. that day come forward with their information. 

Family Seeks Government Help

The incident has shaken Harsimrat's family back home in India. "The family is in complete shock that my granddaughter has left us like this. It is very hard to react to the demise of my beloved granddaughter. I could only say that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Sukhwinder Singh, Harsimrat’s 65-year old grandfather.

"Gangsterism is everywhere, and whatever the situation is in Punjab, it’s worse in Canada," he added.

Her father, Vikram Singh Randhawa, expressed his deep regrets in sending his daughter overseas. “Had we known about such a law-and-order situation, I would never have sent my daughter to Canada. We thought our children were secured in foreign land, but it is the other way around. We demand stringent punishment for the accused involved in the incident,” he said.

Randhawa’s family has formally sought assistance from the Government of India in the process of bringing her remains back to India for her final rites.

Indian Consulate Offers Support

An announcement from the Consulate General of India, Toronto expressed condolence on the demise through a post on X social media. The statement read out as, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario."

The official added, "As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time."

Hamilton Police are vigorously pursuing this case and attempting to bring the offenders to justice. According to the police department, the girl had no roots in violence but was simply an innocent victim who happened to be there at an unfortunate moment.