BENGALURU: The family of Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar, a 37-year-old Indian-origin tech professional from Karnataka, is grappling with grief after he was shot dead in a brazen daylight attack in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday. Relatives said Chandan had repeatedly postponed his return to India. “Had he listened to us and returned, he would have been with us now,” lamented his father, Nandakumar. Chandan, who was seated inside his SUV, was attacked near the entrance of the Woodbine Shopping Centre, close to Rexdale Boulevard, around 3.30 pm local time. According to Toronto Police, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Visuals from the scene showed his white car riddled with bullet holes. Investigators are treating the incident as a “targeted attack,” although no arrests have been made so far. Chandan hailed from Thyamagondlu village near Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural district. A computer science graduate from Sapthagiri College, he had moved to Canada about six years ago and was working with LTI Mindtree, a subsidiary of L&T. Earlier, he had worked with Cognizant in Bengaluru. Friends and relatives said he was actively involved in the Kannada community in Toronto, promoting films, music, and cultural events. Some relatives suspect that his efforts to form a Kannada association in Toronto may have played a role in the attack, though police have not indicated a motive. “The news has completely shattered us. We were planning his marriage, and he was supposed to come home this summer,” said Nandakumar. His uncle Murali Krishna added, “He built a stable life abroad and worked hard. We don’t know why this happened.” The killing has sent shockwaves through the Indian diaspora in Canada. It is Toronto’s third homicide this year, raising concerns among Kannadigas both in Canada and Karnataka. Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara visited Chandan’s family in Thyamagondlu on Tuesday and assured them that his body would be repatriated to India by Saturday. “We are deeply disturbed by the incident. Chandan was a talented professional and socially committed individual, volunteering at a Sai Baba temple and helping fellow Kannadigas in Canada,” he said. Nelamangala MLA N Srinivas, who also visited the family, pledged to bear the expenses of bringing the body home. LTI Mindtree expressed grief over the loss and said it is cooperating with Toronto law enforcement while providing support to the family. Parameshwara urged the Canadian government, through India’s Ministry of External Affairs, to ensure a thorough investigation into the murder. “Kannadigas living in Canada need not fear because of this incident. The Karnataka government is committed to their safety,” he said. Toronto Police continue to investigate the case, appealing to anyone with information about the suspects to come forward.
