A 30-year-old Indian national, Himanshi Khurana, was found murdered in Canada’s Toronto last week, prompting a manhunt for a suspect charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.
In a press statement, the Toronto Police Service confirmed that a search warrant has been issued for 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoori, also a resident of Toronto, in connection with the killing. Police said the victim and the suspect were known to each other.
According to investigators, officers responded to a missing person call at around 10.41 pm on Friday, December 19, in the Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West areas. An investigation was launched immediately. At approximately 6.30 am on Saturday, December 20, police located the missing woman deceased inside a residence.
In a release issued on Monday, Toronto Police said the death has been classified as a homicide, following which the Homicide Unit took over the investigation. The victim was identified as Himanshi Khurana, a Toronto resident.
Police said they are actively searching for Abdul Ghafoori, 32, in connection with the case. An image of the suspect has been released to the public, with authorities urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police.
Media reports have indicated that investigators are treating the case as a suspected act of intimate partner violence. A Toronto Police spokesperson told local broadcaster CP24 that the victim and the suspect “were in an intimate partner relationship.” CBC News also cited police sources describing the killing as an incident of intimate partner violence.
The image of the victim released by police matched one shared on social media by a user bearing the same name. On that profile, Khurana described herself as a Toronto-based digital creator, according to an earlier report.
The Indian Consulate in Toronto expressed deep shock and sorrow over the incident. In a statement posted on X, the Consulate said, “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the murder of Ms Himanshi Khurana, a young Indian national, in Toronto. We extend our deepest condolences to her bereaved family during this moment of profound grief.”
The Consulate added that it has been in close touch with the authorities over the past few days and that all possible assistance is being extended to the family in coordination with local agencies.
Toronto Police have reiterated their appeal to the public to share any information that could help locate the suspect as the investigation continues.
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