Student from Punjab critical after attack in Melbourne

Melbourne, December 30 
A student from Punjab, Manrajwinder Singh (20), suffered serious injuries in a brutal attack by a group during a night out with two of his friends here yesterday.

The attackers, including a woman, assaulted Manrajwinder on a footpath at Birrarung Marr Park, near Central Melbourne.

The victim was taken to The Alfred hospital with life threatening injuries and later transferred to the intensive care unit.

CCTV footage released by the Victoria police showed the victim standing near a footpath with his friends when he was attacked.

Detective Senior Constable Adam Foley said one of the assailants kicked Manrajwinder in the jaw after a brief conversation and knocked him to the ground. The attackers then assaulted him with a stick.

Another victim, who also belongs to Punjab, suffered swelling and abrasions to the face and was treated by paramedics at the scene. The group robbed them of their mobile phones and wallets.

The third man, a 20-year-old from Noble Park, was not assaulted and managed to run away to seek help.

“This was an opportunistic crime… They saw two vulnerable victims minding their own business and targeted them,” said Foley.

Manrajwinder has been in Australia for the past one year studying bachelor of commerce at the University of Melbourne.

At the hospital, the victim’s brother, Yadwinder Singh, said: “I can’t see my brother in this condition. I just want these culprits to be punished… my brother should get justice.”

Detectives are investigating the case and the Victoria police are on a lookout for the assailants, including eight men perceived to be of African origin and a Caucasian woman.

The Indian consulate said they were in touch with the local authorities and the victim’s family in Punjab.

Robbed of mobile phones, wallets

* Manrajwinder Singh was with two friends when he was attacked by a group of eight men and a woman near a footpath in Melbourne.

* His friend also suffered injuries; the assailants robbed them of their mobile phones and wallets.

* Manrajwinder had arrived in Australia a year ago and was studying commerce in the University of Melbourne.