Police and locals gathered around the body near the canal in Jhansa, Kurukshetra, on Friday.
Kurukshetra:
In a suspected suicide case due to a Canadian student visa delay, the body of a 23-year-old man – missing for two days – was found from a canal in the Jhansa, Kurukshtera area of Haryana on Friday.
Some relatives said his visa was mailed the day after he went missing, but he was probably dead by then.
Police suspect the man – identified as Vikesh Saini alias Deepak from Gorkha village in Shahbad subdistrict – jumped into the canal because he was upset that his friend had received a student visa while he had not yet. .
His sandals and motorbike were discovered by his family by the Narwana Branch Canal during the search, after which divers joined.
He is survived by three siblings – a brother and two sisters – besides his parents. His father has a government job, it is educated. The family was immediately unable to speak.
After completing his graduation, he wanted to settle in Canada after studying there first, a relative said.
Gurnam Singh, a former resident of Gorkha village and a family friend, said, “On Thursday, his visa arrived. But he was missing at that time. He was very sad since the visa. his friend’s arrival in Canada. Constantly delayed. The family also wanted to send their son to Canada for a better life.”
It is not clear when he applied.
Regional police officer Rajpal Singh said the body had been handed over to the family after an autopsy. Police have filed a report and initiated the requested investigation but are treating this as a case of suicide.
Student visa delays have been an issue even after Covid eased. Besides Canada – which is taking about six months for the process – the UK and US have taken months to receive applications.
In fact, delays appear to be a worldwide problem, news agencies have reported, as several countries’ immigration offices have posted signs and notices for students.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently said: “Senior MEA officials dealing with Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, UK and the US had discussions bringing about a constructively with the respective heads of missions and senior diplomats of these countries on streamlining the number of student visas for Indian citizens. “
