THE RCMP’s North District Major Crimes Unit announced on Sunday that 25‑year‑old Gurkirat Manocha is the victim of the homicide that occurred at Charlie Lake on March 13 in order to further the investigation and to urge witnesses to come forward.
(Charlie Lake is a settlement on the southern shore of Charlie Lake, immediately north-west from Fort St. John in northeastern B.C.)
At approximately 11:10 p.m. on March 13, Fort St. John RCMP responded to a report of an incident at the Charlie Lake boat ramp. Police learned that several people were involved in an altercation, during which one person sustained serious injuries. Despite life‑saving measures, the victim later succumbed to those injuries.
“The North District Major Crimes Unit is urging anyone with information to come forward and speak with investigators,” says Sgt. Devin Huff with the North District Major Crimes Unit. “Investigators continue to work diligently to advance the investigation into Mr. Manocha’s death.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fort St. John RCMP at 250‑787‑8140.
Manocha was a former student of Akshat International School in Ujjain in India’s central state of Madhya Pradesh. The school said in a post of Facebook that his death was “deeply painful and condemnable.” It noted: “Gurkirat had been pursuing higher education in Business Management in Canada for the past few years, striving to build a bright future.”
It added: “The entire Akshat International School family expresses its deep sorrow over this unfortunate incident. In this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with the bereaved family and extend our heartfelt condolences.
“May the Almighty grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to the grieving family to bear this irreparable loss.”
According to Indian media reports from his hometown, Monocha died after he was assaulted by a group of youths and then run over by a vehicle. He was a student at at Northern Lights College and was working part-time at a Walmart store. In India, he used to help in his family’s food supply business.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav expressed his condolences and said the incident was deeply painful.
