Back To Back Attacks Make Indians In Australia Anxious

Indians are seemingly facing racial abuse in Australia. Back-to-back attacks on Indians are increasing anxiety among the community members. An Indian student Charanpreet Singh was brutally attacked by five men, leaving him unconscious in Adelaide, the same day, a 39-year-old Indian-origin man, Saurabh Anand, was attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers, leaving him grievously injured, including a nearly severed left hand, in Melbourne.

Anand was approached by teenagers from behind while he was walking home after buying medicines at Central Square Shopping Centre in Melbourne. They soon shoved him to the ground and attacked him by punching him on the head repeatedly till he fell to the ground. One of the teenagers placed his hands in Anand’s pockets and searched for valuables. The teens fled with his phone.

One other teen pulled out a machete and held it to his throat. Just as he was trying to protect his face and wrist, the machete went through his wrist. Later, in the second attack, it went through his hand and then through his bone. Speaking from his bed, Anand said that he was then slashed and stabbed with the weapon on his shoulder and back. “I was left half-conscious and found my hand hanging by a thread. There were bone ruptures too on my arm.”

Soon he was rushed to a hospital. Several surgeries were performed to attach his severed left hand. Reportedly, screws were inserted into his wrist and hand to attach them back. He also suffered head injuries, broken bones in his left arm and a fracture in his spine. Reports said that several teenagers were arrested in connection with Anand’s attack. One 14-year-old charged with numerous crimes was arrested and remanded to custody till August 15.

Two 15-year-olds were also charged with intentionally causing serious injury, robbery and unlawful assault. However, Anand said that he was distressed after knowing two 15-year-olds were still in the community after the attack. Anand sought justice and said he did not want anyone else to face the trauma he was facing.