Gujarat student killed in Canada, family seeks return of body

The family of 22-year-old Vidhi Megha, a student from Gujarat, is seeking answers and demanding that her body be brought back to India after she was killed in Canada earlier this month.

Talking to the media, her father, Kalpeshbhai Megha, said Vidhi was allegedly stabbed to death by a drug dealer in the Niagara region after refusing to give him money. Speaking about the incident, he said that Vidhi had argued with the man and refused his demand, after which he attacked her with a knife.

Vidhi was reportedly killed in St Catharines on May 15. However, her family claims they were informed about her death more than ten days later. Her father reportedly said he received information from the police only recently and then informed relatives living in Canada to begin the required procedures.

Originally from Borsad in Gujarat, Vidhi had moved to Canada to study Business Management. After completing her three-year course, she enrolled in a Personal Support Worker (PSW) Honours programme.

The grieving family has appealed to Canadian authorities to send Vidhi’s body back to India so they can perform her last rites. Her aunt, Snehal, said the family has not been able to see her body even after nearly 15 days and expressed frustration over the lack of communication from local authorities.

The Niagara Regional Police have reportedly arrested 40-year-old Joshua St Omer in connection with the case. He has been charged with second-degree murder.