Police advisory had warned women of attacks in Sydney suburb

Area where Prabha was killed witnessedthree sexual attacks in Nov. 2014

The area where Indian techie Prabha Arun Kumar was slain by an unidentified assailant in Sydney was prone to attacks on women. Following three sexual attacks in November 2014, Westmead Police Department had issued an advisory appealing to women to take precautions and not to walk alone in the area.

Trijesh Jayachandra, Prabha’s nephew, told The Hindu that she had not discussed of any such advisory or attacks on women in the area. “We are not sure whether even Prabha was aware of such an advisory or she missed it,” he said.

Three attacks on women walking alone in the area were reported in November 2014. The cases involved an unidentified man approach the woman from behind and sexually assault her, reported

The

Daily Telegraph , a newspaper published from New South Wales, on November 13, 2014.

All three incidents were reported around the Alexandra Ave area which is around 800 metres away from the spot where Prabha was attacked.

The Daily Telegraph had then reported that the police formed a special unit, Strike Force Emeus, which was looking for a man “described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance”. Sources confirmed no arrests have been made in the case yet.

A section of the Australian media has reported that the police were probing the November 2014 attacks to verify whether these attacks were linked.

Mr. Trijesh said the police had reportedly discussed the issue with Prabha’s husband, Arun Kumar, in Sydney.

Meanwhile, when contacted by The Hindu over phone, Parramatta police confirmed there was such an advisory in the area. But the official refused to divulge any further details of the probe or whether they were considering the November attacks and the attack on Prabha to be linked. “We cannot divulge the lines of inquiry during a probe,” the official said.