Sikh student murdered in Nova Scotia

Prabhjot Singh Katri came to Truro in Nova Scotia as a student from India in 2017. After finishing his studies, he was currrently on a work visa and driving a cab as he was waiting to apply for permanent residence. An online fundraiser has raised more than $50,000 to send the body to India

The Canadian Bazaar

TORONTO: The murder of 23-year-old Indian student Prabhjot Singh Katri in the city of Truro in Nova Scotia on Sunday is suspected to be a hate crime. 

The city police confirmed on Monday that the 23-year-old Indian student’s suspicious death is a murder.

Prabhjot Singh Katri’s body was found in an apartment building on Robie Street at about 2 a.m. on Sunday when the police were called to the scene of the crime.

The victim came to Canada from India in 2017 for higher studies. He lived in an apartment with his sister and her husband.

Prabhjot Singh, who had taken up taxi driving after finishing his studies, was returning home early Sunday morning when he was murdered. The small Indo-Canadian community in the town is in shock.

Maninder Singh, the victim’s cousin, said his murder was hate-motivated.

He said Prabhjot worked two jobs to help his family in India and was waiting to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

“He’s an innocent guy coming back from his job. He drives a taxi,” CBC quoted the victim’s friend Jatinder Kumardeep as saying.

READ: Indian student Surajdeep Singh murdered in Brampton

“We feel very unsafe. We are also people. Brown people also matter. We are giving our everything to this country. Why is this happening to us?” Kumardeep asked.

Agampal Singh, another friend of the victim, also suspected it was a hate crime because nothing was stolen from the victim.

He said the victim had no enemies. “We don’t have any idea why this happened. He was a very innocent guy. Never had bad company, never smoked, never drank, he didn’t touch drugs. He had only a few friends here. He didn’t talk with people he didn’t know,” Agampal told CBC.

“And then this thing happens, which has totally destroyed his family and us also. We are coming to this country for a good future. We are not safe. I can’t even sleep.”

An online fundraiser has raised more than $50,000 to send the body to India.

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