01-03-2010, 04:21 PM
Not sure where to put this.
news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3515414
news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3515414
Quote:03/01/2010
Indian youth stabbed to death in Australia
Melbourne: A 21-year-old Indian youth with permanent residency in Australia was 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 pm local time last night (0330 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 (0300 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.
Source: PTI