Melbourne: A 21-year-old Indian youth with
permanent residency in Australia was on Sunday fatally stabbed in
the abdomen by unidentified assailants here while on his way
to work, the first death in a slew of vicious attacks on the
community members.
Nitin Garg, who migrated from Punjab, was attacked in a
park when he was walking towards fast-food joint Hungry Jack`s
restaurant, where he worked part-time.
He staggered into the restaurant on the corner of
Somerville Road and Geelong Road, West Footscray, about 10.00 pm
local time last night (03:30 hrs IST this morning) and pleaded
for help before collapsing.
He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital but later
died, according to TV reports.
Police said the youth from Newport had travelled to
Yarraville train station about 9.30 pm local time (03:00 hrs
IST), then walked along Anderson Street to Cruickshank Park,
where he was stabbed in the abdomen.
He managed to stumble some 300 metres to the Hungry
Jack`s restaurant.
Homicide Squad Senior Sergeant Dave Snare described it as
a vicious attack. He said at this stage there was no known
motive and there was no evidence the youth was targeted
because of his race.
"I think to draw any conclusion as to the motive may
interfere with the investigation and would be presumptuous at
this stage," he said.
Police were trying to contact relatives of the victim, a
single man who had permanent residency in Australia, abroad to
determine if he had any family here.
Nearly 100 cases of attacks on Indians had been
reported in Australia in 2009 as against 17 incidents of
assaults in 2008.
But, Garg, who was the first Indian to be attacked this
year, had been the only victim of such assaults to succumb to
his injuries.
His friends said he feared for his safety following a
previous attack, local media reported, without mentioning
when it had happened.
His housemate, Parminder Singh, said his friend was
nervous after being beaten up by a group of men at the Newport
Railway Station.
"They were just drunk and they wanted to find anyone to
beat," Singh was quoted as saying by ABC News. "If they find
someone alone they just beat (them) because they know nothing
is going to happen after that.
"What will happen? Police will not do anything, they will
just take them to the jail or just let them sit there, they
will give them food and all facilities so they`re not scared
of anything."
Police Senior Sergeant Snare said police had not found a
weapon yet. "We`ve had forensic out at examining the scene out
at Hungry Jacks and in the park and also, with the assistance
of the SES (State Emergency Service), we`ve done a line search
through the park area," he said.
Police were awaiting the results of a post-mortem
examination on the victim`s body.
Sen Sgt Snare said at this stage police had no leads and
urged witnesses to come forward.
"We`d appeal for any witnesses around the area of
Cruickshank Park, the residences there and people around
Anderson Street and the railway station who saw any suspicious
activity," he was quoted as saying by Australian Associated
Press.
Police particularly wanted to hear from a group of people
in the park earlier that night. They said there was no
suggestion these people were involved in the attack, but they
could help the investigation.
Some of the victim`s belongings were found in the park
and police have asked locals to report anything they might
find.
PTI
