An Indian youth was today stabbed in Australia, in the first case of casualty in a series of vicious attacks on the community members, prompting a strong reaction from India which said such incidents could have a "bearing" on bilateral ties.
21-year-old Nitin Garg, who migrated from Punjab and had permanent residency in Australia, was stabbed in the abdomen in a park while on his way to fast food joint Hungry Jack's restaurant, where he worked part-time.
He staggered into the restaurant and pleaded for help before collapsing.
Garg, who had on a previous occasion been beaten up by a group of men at the Newport Railway Station, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he succumbed.
Reacting sharply to the incident, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the brutal attack was "strongly condemnable" and asked the Australian authorities to speedily bring to book persons responsible for the crime.
Krishna told reporters in Bangalore that Australian authorities should take note of the "deep anger" being caused by such incidents and the "bearing" they could have on bilateral ties.
An MEA statement in New Delhi said Krishna has directed the Indian High Commissioner in Canberra and the Indian Consul General in Melbourne to closely coordinate with the Australian authorities and extend all assistance to the family of victim Nitin Garg.
The incident occurred near the Somerville and Geelong Road, West Footscray, about 10 pm local time last night (0330 HRS IST this morning).
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.
Nearly 100 cases of attacks on Indians, mostly racial, were 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 injuries.
Police Homicide Squad Senior Sergeant Dave Snare described it as a vicious attack.
Sen Sgt Snare 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.
The Indian Consulate here declined to comment on the fatal attack on Garg.
The Federation of Indian Students Association (FISA) expressed its deep concern over the attack, with its Founding President Gautam Gupta saying that the organisation was in touch with the victim's friends and providing all support.
Police were trying to contact relatives of the victim, a single man, abroad to determine if he had any family here.
Garg's 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 said they were awaiting results of a post-mortem examination on the victim's body.
