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Missing Indo-Canadian Woman Who Disappeared Under Mysterious Circumstances Had Attended Fiji Rugby Fundraiser On Saturday
Forty-four-year-old Nirla Sharma of New Westminster mysteriously disappeared after leaving home at 4 a.m. on February 24. According to DESIBUZZCanada sources, Sharma attended the Fiji Rugby fundraiser with her daughter on Saturday night. “She came to Khanna Banquet Hall on 21st Feb to pickup her tickets for the Fiji Rugby 7s fundraiser and she attended the function on Saturday, 22nd February,” said the Source.
By DESIBUZZCanada Staff
NEW WESTMINSTER – Family of an Indo-Canadian woman from New Westminster and concerned about her safety after she mysteriously disappeared presumable on her way to work early Sunday morning.
The New Westminster Police Department (NWPD) stated said Nirla Sharma was last seen at her residence at 9 p.m. on February 23 and she vanished after some uncharacteristic behaviour.
According to DESIBUZZCanada sources, Sharma attended the Fiji Rugby fundraiser with her family on Saturday night.
“She came to Khanna Banquet Hall on 21st Feb to pickup her three tickets for the Fiji Rugby 7s fundraiser and she attended the function on Saturday, 22nd February,” said the Source.
The New Westminster police also already gone to the hall and talked to the management and are looking at cctv camera footage and other visual evidence.
At approximately 4 a.m. on Monday, Sharma’s daughter Vanessa Sharma said she heard the front door chime.
"I thought she was just taking out the dog," Vanessa told CTV News. "When I went downstairs at 4:45 the door was still unlocked."
Sharma works an early morning shift and usually arrives at work around 6:30 a.m. in Vancouver but she did not show up for work that morning.
She left without telling anyone and did not take any of her personal belongings. Her keys, wallet, and cellphone were all left behind at the family's Lawrence Street home in the Queensborough area that she shares with her spouse and two adult children.
“We’re concerned for a number of reasons. One, she’s always prompt with getting to work or calling if she’s going to be late. But she no-showed at work on Monday and Tuesday,” said Sgt. Jeff Scott.
“She didn’t take her cell phone, her keys, her car,” and has no access to money or identification.
“Those different factors increase our level of our concern, coupled with the fact that this is totally out of character for her,” Scott added.
The family checked for Nirla at her gym and became alarmed when there was still no sign of her. They then reported her missing to the New Westminster Police Department.
"It's not like her character just to leave. If she does, she lets us know. She always takes her phone with her," Vanessa said. "She won't just disappear."
The Sharmas are now putting up missing posters in New Westminster and checking with hospitals and women's shelters in case there's any sign of her.
"If you did just leave, that's fine," Vanessa said, when asked if she had a message for her mother.
"Just let us know where you are. We just want to hear from you — that you're safe and that you're sound and that nothing has happened to you."
Nirla's 19-year-old son, Rilesh, also had a message: "Please let us know where you are, please come home. We miss you. We all miss you, mom."
Sharma is described as a South Asian female who is 160 centimetres (five-feet, three-inches) tall and weighs about 63 kilograms (138 pounds) with a slim build. She has short black hair, brown eyes, and a medium complexion.
She has a tattoo on her left arm of an OM symbol, and tattoos of a crown on her right wrist, a rose on her tailbone, and a design on her left ankle.
Although she was last seen wearing pajamas, she may be wearing a black jacket with a hood and orange Nike shoes, police said.
The case is being considered high risk by police.
“We are very concerned for Mrs. Sharma because she has not shown up for work, and there are no obvious reasons why she left at 4 a.m.,” NWPD Sgt. Jeff Scott stated in a news release. “She left without telling anyone, and did not take any of her personal belongings, which is out of character for her.”
Anyone with information of her whereabouts is asked to call NWPD at 604-525-5411 or, if she is seen, to call 911.
