Former student from Auckland found dead in India
A former Indian student living in New Zealand, who was on his India visit, was found dead in a hotel room in Punjab under suspicious circumstances.
Sandeep Singh, who hailed from Jamalpur village near Bhogpur, Punjab went to India in December 2016 for his brother’s wedding.
As per the news reports in India, Mr Singh’s family went to Jalandhar city with him on February 8 from where he boarded an Indo-Canadian bus—a direct bus service to New Delhi airport.
However, when Mr Singh did not reach New Zealand on time, his family grew suspicious. When his brother went to Delhi to enquire, he found out that Mr Singh did not board any flight but had rather returned to Jalandhar on the same day.
He rented a room in Hotel Grand Horizon in front of Jalandhar city bus stand. He stayed there for three days and did not try to establish any contact with his family.
The hotel staff said that on February 11, he ordered tea in the morning. In the afternoon, when the cleaning staff went to his room, he did not respond. When the room was opened with a master key, Mr Singh was found dead.
The local police is treating the death as suspicious and is investigating, but a friend of Mr Singh from Auckland, who does not wish to be named, told Indian Weekender that it is possible that he would have ended his own life.
They told us that Mr Singh was devastated as he had failed to get his work visa renewed.
They added that his post-graduate job search visa had ended on March 31, 2016 and he was on an interim visa until September 2016. Mr Singh was working at one of the Pak’ n Save stores in Auckland but he failed to get his work visa renewed that would have allowed him to stay in the country.
Mr Singh’s family was unaware about this and his friend from Auckland told us that he couldn’t tell his parents about his situation. He feared that it would be difficult for them to bear this news after they spent their life savings to send him to New Zealand for a bright and successful future.
Where to get help:
Lifeline (open 24/7)- 0800 543 354
Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116
Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8 a.m. and midnight, or email talk@youthline.co.nz
0800 WHATSUP children's helpline - phone 0800 9428 787
between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
Online chat is available from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Kidsline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 754. This service is for children aged 5 to 18. Those who ring between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays will speak to a Kidsline buddy. These are specially trained teenage telephone counsellors.
Your local Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP)
Alcohol Drug Help (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.
A former Indian student living in New Zealand, who was on his India visit, was found dead in a hotel room in Punjab under suspicious circumstances.
Sandeep Singh, who hailed from Jamalpur village near Bhogpur, Punjab went to India in December 2016 for his brother’s wedding.
As per the news reports...
A former Indian student living in New Zealand, who was on his India visit, was found dead in a hotel room in Punjab under suspicious circumstances.
Sandeep Singh, who hailed from Jamalpur village near Bhogpur, Punjab went to India in December 2016 for his brother’s wedding.
As per the news reports in India, Mr Singh’s family went to Jalandhar city with him on February 8 from where he boarded an Indo-Canadian bus—a direct bus service to New Delhi airport.
However, when Mr Singh did not reach New Zealand on time, his family grew suspicious. When his brother went to Delhi to enquire, he found out that Mr Singh did not board any flight but had rather returned to Jalandhar on the same day.
He rented a room in Hotel Grand Horizon in front of Jalandhar city bus stand. He stayed there for three days and did not try to establish any contact with his family.
The hotel staff said that on February 11, he ordered tea in the morning. In the afternoon, when the cleaning staff went to his room, he did not respond. When the room was opened with a master key, Mr Singh was found dead.
The local police is treating the death as suspicious and is investigating, but a friend of Mr Singh from Auckland, who does not wish to be named, told Indian Weekender that it is possible that he would have ended his own life.
They told us that Mr Singh was devastated as he had failed to get his work visa renewed.
They added that his post-graduate job search visa had ended on March 31, 2016 and he was on an interim visa until September 2016. Mr Singh was working at one of the Pak’ n Save stores in Auckland but he failed to get his work visa renewed that would have allowed him to stay in the country.
Mr Singh’s family was unaware about this and his friend from Auckland told us that he couldn’t tell his parents about his situation. He feared that it would be difficult for them to bear this news after they spent their life savings to send him to New Zealand for a bright and successful future.
Where to get help:
Lifeline (open 24/7)- 0800 543 354
Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116
Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8 a.m. and midnight, or email talk@youthline.co.nz
0800 WHATSUP children's helpline - phone 0800 9428 787
between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
Online chat is available from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Kidsline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 754. This service is for children aged 5 to 18. Those who ring between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays will speak to a Kidsline buddy. These are specially trained teenage telephone counsellors.
Your local Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP)
Alcohol Drug Help (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.
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