New Delhi, Feb. 7 -- Seventeen Indians studying in Canada died on account of "violent attacks" during 2018-2025, the government informed Parliament on Friday. Minister of state (MoS) for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi on incidents of violence against Indian students abroad, shared the country-wise tabulated data. According to data, the total number of Indian students in various foreign universities in different countries who had died on account of violent attacks during 2018-2025 stood as: Canada (17), the US (9), Australia (3), the UK (1), China (1), Denmark (1), Germany (1), Grenada (1) and Kyrgyzstan (2). Owaisi asked the ministry of external affairs (MEA) whether the government is aware of the "rising incidents of violence against Indian students abroad" and if any timely investigation has been conducted in this connection. "The Government accords high priority to the safety and security of Indian students abroad and monitors incidents of violence against them. Violent and untoward incidents against them are immediately taken up by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that they are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished," Singh said. In his response, he shared a "country-wise list of the total number of Indian students in foreign universities who had died on account of violent attacks since 2018". Indian missions and posts also take steps to maintain regular contact with Indian students enrolled in foreign universities in their jurisdictions and conduct pre-orientation sessions with them upon their arrival in foreign lands to brief them on potential challenges, risks and precautions to be taken while studying overseas, including the issue of advisories from time to time, he said. On diplomatic steps taken to enhance safety and mitigate risk for students in high-risk countries, Singh said: "Indian Missions/Posts remain vigilant, particularly in countries affected by political instability, economic crises, and where the risks of students being misled or exploited may be higher. Any incident affecting Indian students is immediately raised with host governments to ensure their safety and redressal."...