GOINDWAL SAHIB / HAMILTON, Apr 19 — Harsimrat Kaur Randhawa, a 21-year-old student from Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, was killed by a stray bullet in Hamilton, Canada, on Thursday evening, sparking shock and grief both abroad and in her native village of Dhunda.
A student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Randhawa was waiting at a bus stop on her way to work when she was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles. The Hamilton Police said they received a report of the shooting around 7:30 pm local time near Upper James Street and South Bend Road. Officers found Randhawa with a gunshot wound to the chest; she was rushed to a hospital but did not survive.
“Through collected video, it was determined that a passenger in a black car fired at the occupants of a white sedan. A stray bullet struck the victim, who had no connection to the individuals involved,” police said in a statement.
Authorities also said bullets entered the rear window of a nearby home where residents were watching television. No injuries were reported inside the residence. A homicide investigation has been launched, and police are urging those with dashcam or security footage between 7:15 and 7:45 pm in the area to come forward.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto confirmed the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles.”
The consulate added, “We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time.”
Harsimrat had moved to Canada two years ago with hopes of building a better future. Her grandfather, Sukhwinder Singh, said, “She had gone there for her education and was waiting at a bus stop when she was shot and killed during a shooting by people in a car.”
As news of her death reached her hometown, a wave of mourning swept through the village, leaving her family and neighbors in deep grief.
