Melbourne: An Indian student was attacked
and beaten till he fell unconscious by a gang in Melbourne`s
Central Business District in broad daylight, a local
television channel reported on Tuesday.
According to 7news channel, Rajat Tyagi, a trainee
pilot, was confronted as he left his apartment in Flinders
Street on Sunday morning by five men who he said looked like
"Africans."
Tyagi, who hails from Delhi, said the gang surrounded
him and bashed him till he fell unconscious.
"I want to go home as soon as possible because we are
not safe here. They hit me twice in the mouth, and my whole
lips were hanging down. I just lost my tooth. I don`t know
where my tooth is, maybe in my stomach, maybe on the floor. I
can`t find it.
"I can`t eat anything, I cant drink anything and my
room mates are feeding me milk just to survive so I can live,"
he said.
Rajat hopes that the incident was captured on CCTV.
He said he has heard no more from police since they
arrived half-an-hour after the assault, and told him he was
one of several similar assaults that night.
Rajat is now unable to sit his flying exams after
Easter because of the bashing, the channel reported.
In a statement, Police said they were told the victim
was with a male friend at Flinders Street station at around
6.40 am.
"An argument has taken place between the victim, his
friend and approximately five males perceived as being of
African appearance. The argument did not escalate and all
parties walked away.
"The victim walked across to the other side of
Flinders Street while his friend bought a train ticket," it
said.
"It was then alleged the victim was again approached
by five males who pulled up beside him in a vehicle described
as a red/burgundy coloured Daihatsu sedan. One male has
allegedly jumped out of the car and punched the victim once to
the face leaving him with a lost tooth and a busted lip," the
police said.
"The group of attackers are described to be in their
early 20s and perceived to be of African appearance," the
statement added.
Over 100 attacks against Indian students were reported
in Australia in 2009.
PTI
