Toronto, Sep 7 (IANS) A 23-year-old Indian youth from Punjab has been murdered in Canada.
Prabhjot Singh Katri was found murdered early on Sunday morning near his residence in the city of Truro in Nova Scotia.
The victim came to Canada from India in 2017 for higher studies. After finishing his studies, he was on a work visa and was driving a cab to earn his livelihood.
The victim was returning home after work when he was murdered, not far from the apartment he shared with his sister and her husband. The relatives and friends of the victim claim it to be a hate crime.
The small Indo-Canadian community in the town is in shock.
Maninder Singh, the victim's cousin, said that his murder was hate-motivated.
He said Prabhjot did two jobs to help his family in India and was waiting to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
"He was an innocent guy returning back from his job. He drove a taxi," the victim's friend, Jatinder Kumardeep, was quoted as saying.
Agampal Singh, another friend of the victim, said that he had no enemies.
"We don't have any idea why this happened. He was a very innocent guy. He didn't talk with people he didn't know. And then this thing happens, which has totally destroyed his family and us also. We come to this country for a good future. We are not safe here. I can't even sleep."
An online fundraiser has raised more than $50,000 to send the body to India.
The victim, who was identified as Sandeep Bhati, was in his Hyundai Verna along with three friends when the incident took place around 5 a.m., according to the police. He is learnt to be critical and undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Noida.
Sportspersons performing well in the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as World Cup tournaments, will be recruited in various departments under the sports quota, following amendment to Rule 3 of the Punjab Recruitment of Sportsmen Rules, 1988, through insertion of Rule 3-A.
After the meeting of Rahul Gandhi with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and T.S. Singh Deo, it is widely expected that the state could see a minor portfolio reshuffle. Singh Deo may be given more importance in the cabinet and it's likely he may be allotted a portfolio soon. Currently he holds the health portfolio.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he will invite Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Punjab Governor V.P. Badnore and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as guests at the special session.
Chidambaram was addressing a press conference at the fag-end of his two-day visit to the state in the capacity as the All India Congress Committee's senior observer in charge of Goa ahead of the 2022 state assembly polls.
Punjab annually generates 20 million tonnes of paddy straw and this is normally set on fire to quickly clear the fields for the next crop, resulting in choking of the National Capital Region (NCR) in October and November.
