Parents urge Indian techie to return after Canada killing
Police believe the shooting was targeted, officers said.
Bengaluru woke up to heartbreaking news after an Indian IT professional was shot dead in Canada. His parents say they had been asking him to return home for years. He never did.
He was 37 years old and lived in Brampton near Toronto. He was shot by unknown men in the parking lot of a busy shopping centre in Toronto, police said.
Chandan later died from his injuries at a hospital. Toronto Police believe the shooting was a targeted incident. The attackers are still not known.
Back home in Karnataka, his parents are shattered. They live in Thyamagondlu village in Nelamangala, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The entire area is in shock after hearing the news.
People in the locality described Chandan as calm and helpful. Many said his family is well respected. Since the news broke, neighbours and relatives have been visiting the house to offer support.
Chandan’s father, Nanda Kumar, spoke with deep pain. He said they never imagined such a tragedy. He said they had pleaded with their son many times to return to India.
“We never expected this. We kept asking him to come back. But he did not listen to us.”
His father said the family hoped Chandan would settle back in India. They wanted him close, especially as they grew older. But Chandan believed his future was in Canada.
Now, Nanda Kumar has appealed to the Government of India. He asked for help in bringing his son’s body back to the country. He said the family wants to perform the final rites at home.
“We want his body brought here. We want to cremate him according to our customs,” he said.
Chandan’s mother was too shaken to speak much. Through relatives, she said she believes her son’s social work may have led to the attack. She claimed Chandan had formed a Kannada association in Toronto.
According to her, Chandan wanted to bring together people from Karnataka living in Canada. He often took part in cultural events. He helped others feel at home in a foreign land.
She suspects this effort may have upset someone. She feels this could be linked to his killing.
Toronto Police released a statement on Sunday. They confirmed the victim’s identity as Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar. They said he was shot in the parking area of a busy shopping centre.
Police said emergency services rushed him to the hospital. Despite treatment, he later died due to his injuries. Officers believe the attack was targeted, meaning it was not random.
Police are checking CCTV footage from the area. They are also speaking to witnesses. So far, no arrests have been made.
The incident has raised fear among Indian immigrants in Canada. Many are worried about safety, especially after a rise in violent incidents in recent months.
Friends of Chandan in Canada described him as friendly and hardworking. They said he was active in the local community. Many said he often helped new immigrants settle down.
One friend said Chandan loved his roots. “He spoke Kannada proudly and wanted to keep our culture alive.”
Many expressed anger and sadness. Some questioned the safety of immigrants in Canada.
In Thyamagondlu, the mood remains heavy. Shops opened late. People spoke in hushed voices. Many families said they could feel the parents’ pain.
Local leaders also visited Chandan’s home. They promised to help the family in any way possible. Some urged the state and central governments to step in.
This is not the first such case. In recent years, several Indians have been attacked or killed abroad. Each incident renews concerns for families back home.
For Chandan’s parents, these debates mean little now. Their only wish is to see their son one last time.
“That is all we want now.”
As police continue their investigation in Canada, a grieving family in Bengaluru waits. They wait for answers. They wait for closure. And they wait to bring their son home.