India has taken note of an incident of stabbing of one of its student in Australia in an alleged racial attack and is in touch with local authorities there, the Ministry of External Affairs said here on Friday. The student was identified as Shubham Garg, a native of Agra.
The suspect was arrested and India expects action taken against the perpetrators, ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here. The Indian High Commission in Canberra and the consulate in Sydney are in close touch with the local authorities and a suspect is in custody, he said adding "It is a sad incident. He (Garg) is in a hospital and treatment is being done," Bagchi said.
"We expect that the matter is dealt with seriously and action is taken against the perpetrators," Bagchi said and informed the Indian mission is also in touch with Garg's family members. It is also providing help in expediting their travel to Australia. Asked if it was a racial attack, the MEA spokesperson said, "I do not want to speculate, the focus is on his treatment."
The 28-year-old Indian student was stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen in Australia by a man who allegedly demanded cash, according to local media reports.
The incident took place at about 10.30 pm on October 6 as Garg walked along the Pacific Highway, the NSW Police Force said in a statement on Monday. The student was stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen. Police have arrested Daniel Norwood and the 27-year-old suspect is charged with attempted murder. Garg sought assistance from a nearby house before being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. He underwent surgery and remains there in a serious but stable condition, the NSW Police Force statement said. The emergency services were called. The North Shore Police Area Command attended and located the injured man and established a crime scene. Officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command have been investigating the stabbing and formed Strike Force Prosy, it said.
Following extensive inquiries by Strike Force Prosy detectives, a search warrant was executed on a home on the Pacific Highway at Greenwich at about 3.40 pm on Sunday.
Norwood, of Gosford, was arrested at the scene and was taken to Chatswood Police Station, where he was charged with one count of attempted murder after the alleged stabbing, the statement said.
A number of items were seized from the home and have been taken for forensic examination, it said.
He was refused bail and appeared at Hornsby Local Court on Monday and will remain in custody with the next court appearance.
Agra DM Navneet Singh Chahal informed the media that Shubham has already undergone two operations so far and his younger brother has applied for VISA. “We hope his family will be able to meet him in Sydney soon,” he said.