Two Indians killed in Toronto in a week: Canadian journalist flags rising anti-Indian sentiment, slams police

Two Indian nationals were killed in Toronto within a week, sparking criticism from journalist Daniel Bordman over rising anti-Indian sentiment and ineffective police response. The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of the Indian community in Canada.

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Concerns over the safety of Indian nationals in Canada have resurfaced after two Indian citizens were killed in Toronto within a span of a week, prompting sharp criticism from a Canadian journalist over what he described as rising anti-Indian sentiment and a weak response from local authorities.

Speaking to ANI, Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman said hostility toward Indians in Canada was increasing and accused the police of failing to act decisively.

“There’s a rising culture of anti-Indian sentiment being pushed by a lot of different factors, some of which you’re familiar with in India,” Bordman said.

Referring to the latest shooting in Toronto, Bordman said there was little transparency from authorities. “So for the most recent murder in Toronto, we just know the name of the victim and that he was shot dead. We don’t know why, who, what, when, or how. This most recent murder, the public knows next to nothing about it other than that there is a murder,” he told ANI.

He also criticised the police response, calling it ineffective. “If you’re wondering what the police are doing, they’re probably looking into it, but this is Canadian police, so I expect extreme incompetence,” Bordman said. He further alleged that violent crimes were not treated seriously enough. “If this was a mean comment online about a government official that was not white, the person might be in jail for 50 years, but this is just a murder. So this is not that serious to the Toronto police,” he added.

Two killings shake Indian community

The criticism comes after the killing of Himanshi Khurana, a 30-year-old woman of Indian origin, whose body was found inside a residence in Toronto last week. According to the Toronto Police Service, officers responded to a missing person call on December 19 at around 10.41 pm in the Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West area.

“On Saturday, December 20, 2025, at approximately 6.30 am, officers located the missing female deceased inside a residence,” police said, adding that the case was being treated as a homicide. Authorities said they were searching for her live-in partner, Abdul Ghafoori, in connection with the murder.

Days later, another Indian national, 20-year-old student Shivank Avasthi, was shot dead on December 23 in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area. Police said the suspects fled before officers arrived at the scene.

India responds

Reacting to Avasthi’s death, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was in touch with Canadian authorities. “We are in touch with his family. It’s very unfortunate. We convey our deepest condolences. We are also in touch with local authorities about the circumstances led to the death,” he said.

The twin killings have heightened anxiety among the Indian diaspora in Canada, which has grown significantly over the past decade. The incidents have also renewed questions about law enforcement, public safety, and whether crimes involving Indian nationals are being handled with the seriousness they deserve.