Indian student in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times in Australia

Sydney: A 28-year-old Indian student from Agra is in a critical condition after being stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen in an apparent “racial attack” in Australia on October 6.

Shubham Garg, who is pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of New South Wales, was walking along the Pacific Highway at about 10.30pm on his way back to his place of residence.

A 27-year-old man, Daniel Norwood, was arrested at the scene and taken to Chatswood Police Station where he was charged with attempted murder.

Norwood was refused bail when he appeared at Hornsby Local Court. He will remain in custody with his next court appearance on December 14, The Australia Today reported.

Norwood allegedly threatened Garg while demanding money and his phone. He refused and was allegedly stabbed several times in the abdomen before the attacker fled, The Australia Today quoted local media reports as saying.

Garg’s family called the attack on his son an act of “racism”. His parents said they had been trying to get an Australian visa for more than a week, but to no avail, according to local media reports.

“My brother Shubam Garg, 28, from Uttar Pradesh, was brutally attacked in Sydney, Australia 11 times with a knife and is in a critical condition. We seek your immediate help in this matter and urgent visa for family members to take care of him,” Kavya Garg, the victim’s sister, tweeted on October 12.

Meanwhile, Agra Chief Minister Navneet Chahal was quoted as saying in the media that the visa application of the victim’s brother is under process and the administration is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs.

Chahal added that he had contacted embassy officials in Sydney for a visa.