Indian killed in Australia: Racial attack
January 3, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
CANBERRA: An Indian man fatally stabbed in a Melbourne park had feared for his life because of a previous attack at a railway station, his housemate has said.
The 21-year-old man staggered into a Hungry Jack’s restaurant on the corner of Somerville Road and Geelong Road, West Footscray, asking for help before collapsing about 10pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
The man, from Newport, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he later died.
His housemate Parminder Singh said the man had previously been attacked at the Newport railway station.
“They were just drunk and they wanted to find anyone to beat,” he told the ABC.
“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.”
The attack comes after a series of violent incidents against Indians in Melbourne and Sydney in 2008.
The violence led to protests and made headlines across India and internationally, creating potential problems for Australia’s $15.5 billion education export industry.
Police said the man stabbed on Saturday had travelled to Yarraville train station about 9.30pm (AEDT), then walked along Anderson Street to Cruickshank Park where he was stabbed in the abdomen.
He then staggered about 300 metres to the Hungry Jack’s restaurant where he worked part-time.
Homicide squad Senior Sergeant Dave Snare said the attack was vicious and the motive not known.
He said there was no evidence the man 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 told reporters in Melbourne.
The victim, a single man who had permanent residency in Australia, is understood to be originally from India’s Punjabi region. But Federation of Indian Students spokesman Gautum Gupta said race was a clear factor in the attack.
“Nothing was stolen. The wallet was there, mobile phone was there, so there’s no other motivation other than race,” he said.
Police are trying to contact the man’s relatives abroad and determine if he has any in Australia.
Sen Sgt Snare said at this stage police had no leads and urged any witnesses to come forward. police particularly want to hear from a group of people who were in the park earlier that night.
They say while there is no suggestion they were involved in the attack, they could help the investigation. Some of the man’s belongings were found in the park and police are asking locals to keep an eye out for other items.
Indian killed in Australia: Racial attack was first posted on January 3, 2010 at 7:44 pm.
