Indian man killed in N Zealand remembered by friends in Oman

Friends of a 25-year-old Indian-origin man who died after being assaulted in Auckland was fondly remembered at a mass in Muscat where he studied studied before moving to New Zealand.
Tarun Asthana, a former student of Indian School Muscat (ISM), died yesterday after being punched outside a fast food outlet in central Auckland.
The news of Asthana's death sent shock waves among his friends in Muscat. A mass was organised at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oman's capital yesterday.
"It is shocking and a big loss for all his friends," Lirenne Gomes, a schoolmate of Asthana, was quoted as saying by the Times of Oman.

Lirenne and Asthana grew up together. Asthana studied in ISM till class 10th and then migrated to New Zealand.
"Tarun had visited Oman and Dubai in 2011 to meet his friends and relatives," Lirenne said.

"He was very bright. He always used to smile and make others smile," said Alistan, another friend of Asthana.
His friends also expressed solidarity to Asthana's mother, Yvette, a very popular figure in Oman as she worked as a radio jockey in one of the FM radio stations of Muscat.
Asthana was on life support in hospital since he was assaulted on Saturday morning.