Gujarat Student Killed in Canada; Family Seeks Return of Body
Father alleges daughter was stabbed after refusing to pay money demanded by drug dealer
- Gujarat student Vidhi Megha was killed in Canada on May 15
- Father alleges she was attacked after refusing extortion demand
- Suspect Joshua St Omer arrested and charged with murder
- Family appeals for early repatriation of mortal remains
GG News Bureau
Ahmedabad, 29th May: A 22-year-old student from Gujarat studying in Canada was allegedly stabbed to death in the Niagara region, with her family claiming she was attacked after refusing to pay money demanded by a drug dealer.
The victim, Vidhi Kalpeshbhai Megha, a resident of Borsad in Gujarat, was killed on May 15 in St Catharines. Her family said they were informed about her death more than 10 days later.
According to her father, Vidhi had been living in Canada for the past four years and was pursuing higher studies.
“She fought with him and refused to pay. He attacked her with a knife,” her father told media, alleging that a drug dealer had been seeking money from her before the attack.
He appealed to the Canadian authorities and the Indian government to facilitate the return of his daughter’s mortal remains to India for her last rites.
Vidhi had moved to Canada to study business management and had completed a three-year course before enrolling in a Personal Support Worker (PSW) Honours programme.
The alleged attacker, identified as Joshua St Omer, 40, was arrested on May 18. According to the Niagara Regional Police Service, he has been charged with second-degree murder.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Cabinet Minister and BJP MLA Ramanbhai Solanki said he met Vidhi’s family after learning about the incident and assured them that efforts were being made to expedite the return of her body.
Solanki said he had communicated the family’s concerns to both the Chief Minister’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office.
“I empathised with their grief and conveyed their demand that the daughter’s mortal remains be handed over to her family members as soon as possible,” he said.
The incident has sparked concern among the local community in Gujarat, with family members awaiting the completion of legal formalities for the repatriation of Vidhi’s remains.
