Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): A 37-year-old Indian-origin man was killed after being shot by unidentified assailants in the parking lot of a busy shopping centre in Toronto, Canada, local authorities said.
The Toronto Police Service confirmed that the victim was Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar, a resident of Brampton. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when police received a distress call at around 3.31 pm regarding a shooting at the Woodbine Shopping Centre near Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27.
On reaching the location, officers found Nandakumar suffering from multiple gunshot injuries. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later died during treatment. The suspects reportedly escaped from the scene in a vehicle, and no arrests have been made so far.
Originally from Karnataka, Nandakumar was working as an information technology professional in Canada. Police officials stated that this incident is the third homicide recorded in Toronto this year.
According to Canadian media reports, a white SUV parked at the site was found with bullet marks on the windshield and a shattered driver-side window. While the exact circumstances behind the shooting are still under investigation, police believe the attack was not random and appears to have been directed at the victim.
Toronto Police Inspector Errol Watson said that a shooting in a public space like a shopping centre is a serious concern for public safety. He added that officers are actively searching for witnesses, surveillance footage and other evidence to identify those involved. Investigators are also trying to determine the number of suspects and how many shots were fired.
Back in India, the victim’s family has been left devastated. Nandakumar hailed from Thyamagondlu village in Nelamangala taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Residents of the village said the news of his death has cast a pall of gloom over the area.
Family members revealed that they had repeatedly urged him to return to India, as he had been living in Canada for the past six to seven years. His father, Nanda Kumar, told a local news channel that the family never expected such a tragedy and had hoped he would come back home.
The family has appealed to the Government of India to assist in bringing Nandakumar’s body back to the country so that his final rites can be performed in his hometown. His mother also expressed suspicion that his involvement in setting up a Kannada association in Toronto might have had some connection to the killing, though police have not confirmed any such link.
