Activists seek justice for family after son’s murder in Canada

Office-bearers and activists of various social and literary organisations have urged the state and Central governments, as well as the Canadian authorities, to assist a Punjabi family facing a loss due to the alleged administrative failures in providing honourable job opportunities for the youth of Punjab. The family, led by Charanjit Singh Vicky from Jalandhar, currently residing in Ludhiana, seeks justice for the brutal murder of their son, Gurasis Singh.

Gurasis, 22, was stabbed to death by his roommate, Crossley Hunter, following an altercation on the evening of December 1 at Sarnia, Ontario. The murder has sparked outrage within the community. Activists, led by Dr Hari Singh Jachak, a close relative of the family, have expressed deep regret over what they describe as the failure of successive governments’ education policies. These policies, they claim, have forced many youths, including Gurasis, to seek better opportunities abroad, only to meet untimely and tragic ends.

Dr Jachak and other intellectuals have called on their acquaintances in Canada to leverage their influence with both the Punjab and Union governments, as well as the Ontario authorities, to ensure that Gurasis’s body is repatriated to India and that justice is served for his untimely death. “We are also requesting the authorities to expedite the process of bringing the accused to justice,” they said.

Charanjit Singh Vicky, who works as a manager at a packing material factory, had exhausted his savings to send his son to Canada for studies. Gurasis had arrived in Canada in September 2024, but as he was yet to find a job, he was sharing accommodation with Crossley Hunter at the time of the murder.

The Sarnia police services have confirmed that Hunter has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Gurasis. The Criminal Investigation Division is continuing to gather evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, though authorities have stated that the crime does not appear to be racially motivated.

Meanwhile, Rajpal Singh Kalsi, president of the Sarnia Sikh Society, announced that the society had planned a candlelight vigil to honour Gurasis, but the event has been postponed until further notice.

As the investigation continues, the aggrieved family and local community leaders are hopeful that the Canadian authorities will bring justice and that the tragic loss of a young life will spur action on addressing the issues that led to this tragedy.