Indian youth murdered in Australia; India reacts angrily

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne/New Delhi, Jan 3 (PTI) An Indian youth was
on Sunday 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 India's
northern state of 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, India's 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. (MORE) PTI NC
MYR


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