- Friday, May 02, 2025
The student was targeted for voicing opposition to extremist activities, said an Australian media report.
By: Shubham Ghosh
A 23-YEAR-OLD Indian student in Australia was brutally assaulted by Khalistan supporters for voicing opposition to extremist activities, a report by The Australia Today said on Friday (14).
The incident took place in Sydney’s Merrylands suburb, where the student was targeted by a group of assailants wielding iron rods and chanting “Khalistan Zindabad” (Hail Khalistan).
Recalling the incident, the student, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was on his way to work early in the morning when the Khalistan supporters suddenly confronted him.
As he sat in his car, one of them forcefully opened the door and struck him with an iron rod beneath his left eye.
Subsequently, he was forcibly pulled out of the vehicle and beaten with iron rods, while two of the attackers recorded the assault.
Throughout the ordeal, the assailants continuously chanted “Khalistan Zindabad” to express their support for the extremist cause.
Following the attack, they warned the student, who also works as a driver, that it should serve as a lesson for opposing the Khalistan issue, threatening to inflict further harm if necessary.
The New South Wales (NSW) Police were notified about the incident, and the injured student was immediately taken to Westmead Hospital, Sydney.
According to a police spokesperson, the victim was assaulted by four men armed with a metal pole, who viciously kicked, punched and repeatedly struck him with the weapon before fleeing the scene in a gray sedan.
In response to the incident, a local Member of Parliament for Merrylands condemned the violence and extremism, emphasising that such behavior has no place in the community.
The parliamentarian assured that relevant authorities had been informed and promised to monitor the situation closely.
This attack comes in the wake of previous clashes between Khalistani activists and pro-India demonstrators in Melbourne during a so-called ‘Punjab independence referendum’ in January.
The Indian government has urged the Australian authorities to address the activities of Khalistani separatists and the recurring attacks on Hindu temples in the country.
Recently, the spokesperson for India’s ministry of external affairs, Arindam Bagchi, stressed that freedom of expression should not be misused to advocate violence or legitimise terrorism, as there has been a surge in anti-India activities by Khalistani groups in certain nations.
The assault on the Indian student highlights the urgent need for measures to curb extremism and safeguard the well-being of individuals expressing their opinions. It underscores the importance of fostering a tolerant and inclusive society where differing views can be peacefully debated without resorting to violence.
(With agency inputs)
