Indian student Gurashman Singh Bhatia, who was missing for around a week in the United Kingdom, was found dead inside a lake in Canary Wharf in London, the UK Metropolitan police informed in a statement.
The Met Police said the 23-year-old had been reported missing after a night out with friends. The Tower Hamlets Police in London posted on the social media platform X seeking more information about the deceased.
Officers went on to carry out “extensive enquiries”, including viewing CCTV, speaking to witnesses and analysing phone and financial data. Water searches were also carried out in the area and a body believed to be that of Bhatia was recovered by police divers in the water in South Quay.
Gurashman’s death is being treated as unexpected, and while there is nothing to suggest it was suspicious, we will ensure our investigation is as thorough as possible to confirm this,” said Detective Chief Superintendent (DCI) James Conway, responsible for local policing in the Tower Hamlets area of Canary Wharf.
Conway added that this was an “extremely tragic outcome” to their missing persons inquiry and not the news he was hoping to give to Gurashman’s family and friends.
“I send them my deepest condolences,” he said.
“What a tragic, heartbreaking loss of one of our beautiful lives. I had spoken to his father and friends only some days ago when we first found out he was missing and had been praying for his safe discovery,” said Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK.
“Our thoughts are with his family & friends. Requesting all to please say a prayer for the departed soul,” she said.
The Indian student community in the UK had launched extensive social media appeals following Bhatia’s disappearance. Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, lamented the loss and extended condolences to the family and friends, urging prayers for Gurashman’s soul.
Bhatia was pursuing an MSc in Digital Finance at Loughborough University. After he went missing last week, his case was also flagged with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar by BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
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