Family remembers international student killed in Fort St. John as a ‘devoted person’ | CBC News
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The family of an international student killed in Fort St. John, B.C., earlier this month says the 25-year-old had a dream of bringing his parents to Canada one day.
Gurkirat Singh Manocha was injured and later died after an “altercation” involving several people at the Charlie Lake boat ramp on March 13, according to RCMP.
From the city of Ujjain in central India, Manocha was in Fort St. John studying business management at Northern Lights College.
His cousin, Jasmeet Kaur, said Manocha was excited to build a life in Canada, and to help his parents back home with what he was learning at school.
“He was such a devoted person, an ambitious person of what he wants to do of his life,” she said.
“Ultimate goal was to make them come here, show them the lifestyle that he was going to create for himself, and then be able to call his parents one day.”
When the news broke, Kaur said Manocha’s mother was so shocked she fainted.
“We really can’t understand the pain and suffering, that’s beyond our imagination. But, however, we still wish to relieve the family from all the financial burden,” she said.
Kaur started a GoFundMe to help support Manocha’s parents and to pay off his student loans.
“Whatever we can do, we are trying,” she said. “I am grateful for the people who’ve so generously shown their support so far.”
Kaur said the family is working to bring Manocha’s body home to Ujjain. They’re also waiting for answers on what happened.
Few details have been released on the incident, and no arrests have been announced so far.
Kaur said Manocha’s parents want to able to perform his last rites in India, a ceremony that would include prayers at their home and dressing him in traditional clothing.
Manocha was Sikh and visited gurdwaras often, a type of religious temple and community gathering space, explained Kaur, noting that prayers have been continuously held for him since the family learned of his death.
Kaur is also urging anyone with information on what happened at the boat ramp to come forward to help the RCMP’s investigation.
“If you know anything about that day, please do not withhold any information or any part. Please do the right thing.”
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