The inconsolable family of Nitin Garg, who was stabbed to death in Melbourne on Saturday, has demanded that the body be brought back to Jagraon, 125 km from here.
“We sent him thinking he would find better career avenues to settle down in life…[Now] we just want his body brought back to us,” said Ashok Kumar, uncle of the 21-year-old youth.
“Nothing can bring him back. But our government must ensure that Indians living abroad are not targeted, so that no other family goes through this pain.”
Nitin’s mother is said to be in shock and declined to speak about the tragic death. The family, which lost Nitin’s father two years ago, feels let down by the Indian High Commission as no one has reached out to it.
Despite claims from the Australian High Commission that the attack was not racial, Nitin’s family alleged that Indians were targeted.
According to the family, Nitin was beaten up by a group at the Newport railway station once before Sunday’s attack.
But he continued to believe that he was safe. Now a racist attack took away his life, the family said.
“There is no other reason for his demise; he was a very law-abiding and polite boy who hardly had enemies,” Mr. Kumar said.
Nitin, who was pursuing an accounts degree course in Melbourne, had migrated from Punjab and took permanent residency in Australia. He often repudiated reports of racial attacks.
The Australian High Commission has condemned Sunday’s attack. “Australia is a nation that overwhelmingly is an open, tolerant, multi-cultural, welcoming society,” a press release said.
“That is the image of Australia; that is the reality of Australia. This incident is to be condemned. Now we have to let the police do their work and find who is responsible.”
