In a brutal incident, a 28-year-old Indian student has been stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen in Australia by a man who allegedly demanded cash, authorities said.
The incident took place on October 6 at about 10.30 pm, as Shubham Garg walked along the Pacific Highway, NSW Police Force said in a statement on Monday.
Police have arrested Daniel Norwood and the 27-year-old suspect is charged with attempted murder after Garg, allegedly suffered multiple stab wounds to the face, chest and abdomen, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.
All about the mishap
28-year-old Shubham Garg suffered multiple stab wounds to his face, chest, and abdomen; he sought assistance from a nearby house before being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. The man underwent surgery and remains there in a serious but stable condition, the NSW Police Force statement said.
Garg was approached by an unknown man near the Pacific Highway Lane Cove on Thursday. The unknown man allegedly threatened him while demanding cash, In The Cove newspaper reported.
The man refused and was allegedly stabbed a number of times in the abdomen before the assailant fled, the report added.
The emergency services were called. The North Shore Police Area Command attended and located the injured man and established a crime scene, it said.
Officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command have been investigating the stabbing and formed Strike Force Prosy, it said.
Police investigation status
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, who 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.
The Police Media Unit told In The Cove, "We can confirm the men are not believed to have known each other before he incident."
MEA demands strict action
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian High Commission in Canberra is in close contact with Australian local authorities and demanded that strict action be taken against the perpetrators.
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said "It is a sad incident. He (Garg) is in a hospital and treatment is being done." He added that the suspect is in custody and reaffirmed "We expect that the matter is dealt with seriously and action is taken against the perpetrators."
Bagchi said the Indian mission is also in touch with Garg's family members and 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."
(With PTI Inputs)
