Parliament was told that 17 Indian students died in violent attacks in Canada between 2018 and 2025, prompting the government to outline safety measures, consular support and evacuation efforts abroad.
Seventeen Indian students studying in Canada died in “violent attacks” between 2018 and 2025, the government told Parliament on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, said Canada recorded the highest number of such deaths during the period under review.
Sharing country-wise data, Singh said 17 Indian students died in violent incidents in Canada, followed by nine in the United States, three in Australia and one each in the United Kingdom, China, Denmark, Germany and Grenada. Two such deaths were reported from Kyrgyzstan.
Owaisi had asked whether the government was aware of what he described as rising incidents of violence against Indian students abroad and whether timely investigations had been conducted.
“The Government accords high priority to the safety and security of Indian students abroad and monitors incidents of violence against them,” Singh said. “Violent and untoward incidents are immediately taken up by the Indian Missions and Posts with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that they are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished.”
He said Indian missions remain in regular contact with students and conduct pre-departure and post-arrival orientation sessions to brief them on “potential challenges, risks and precautions,” along with issuing advisories when required.
To ensure timely support, students are encouraged to register with Indian missions and use platforms such as the MEA’s MADAD portal, dedicated WhatsApp groups, consular camps, open houses and emergency helplines, the minister said.
Responding to questions on diplomatic measures in high-risk countries, Singh said Indian missions “remain vigilant, particularly in countries affected by political instability or economic crises,” and that any incident involving Indian students is promptly raised with host governments.
Consular assistance, including emergency medical help and temporary accommodation, is extended when required, with support also provided through the Indian Community Welfare Fund, he said.
Singh noted that India has carried out large-scale evacuation operations during emergencies to protect its nationals abroad, including students, citing Operation Devi Shakti in Afghanistan, Operation Ganga in Ukraine, Operation Kaveri in Sudan, and Operations Ajay (Israel) and Sindhu (Israel and Iran) linked to West Asia.
“These efforts demonstrate the government of India’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian students abroad and towards protecting them from miscreants and an unsafe security situation,” he said.
In response to a separate query, Singh said the government of India is aware that “some Indian nationals, including students, in Canada and other countries, such as the USA and the Gulf, are facing deportation proceedings for alleged violations of visa norms, non-compliance with the regulations of host countries and submission of fraudulent letters of admission to academic institutions”.
