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The Indian national was stabbed to death in Canada’s Rockland on Friday. According to reports, the man was identified as Dharmesh Kathireeya, who hailed from Gujarat and lived in Canada on work permit.
Indian national killed in Canada (GoFundme Image)
The Indian national, who was killed on Friday in a township near the Canadian capital city of Ottawa, may have been a victim of racism, according to reports.
Though the deceased is yet to be formally identified, reports suggest his name was Dharmesh Kathireeya, 27.
The reports said that he was stabbed by a neighbour on Friday afternoon while exiting a shared laundry room in the building where he lived. The crime was committed by a white man in his 60s, who had earlier thrown racial and anti-Indian abuses at Dharmesh and his wife.
The victim, originally from Gujarat’s Bhavnagar, had come to Canada as an international student in 2019 and was residing in the country on a work permit.
The people aware of the matter shared videos shot when the police arrested the man. The deceased’s wife had joined him in the country last year.
The attacker’s name is yet to be made public by the police.
“It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that we share the tragic and sudden loss of our dear friend, Dharmesh. On April 4th, 2025, Dharmesh was taken from us in an unprovoked hate crime and senseless attack by a neighbor. The violence that ended his life has left his family, friends, and the entire community in shock and mourning,” an online fundraiser for Dharmesh’s family said.
He worked with Milano Pizza Rockland. After the killing, the outlet announced a temporary closure.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the temporary closure of Milano Pizza, effective immediately and until further notice. Our beloved manager Dharmesh tragically passed away in a terrible incident on April 4th,” the outlet’s Facebook message read.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa said on Friday, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of an Indian national in Rockland near Ottawa due to a stabbing. Police have stated that a suspect has been taken into custody. We are in close contact through a local community association to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved kin”.
His family was informed about the incident on Saturday.
