IIT graduate brutally stabbed in Sydney

Shubham Garg, 28, an IIT graduate pursuing a PhD from the University of New South Wales, was brutally stabbed at night in Sydney by an armed thief on October 6 as he refused to part with his money.

A 27-year-old man Daniel Norwood was arrested at the scene and was taken into the custody of Chatswood Police Station. He has been charged with ‘one count of attempted murder’ and produced in court, according to The Daily Telegraph AU.

Shubham’s family in Agra was granted a visa today as they had appealed to the government to facilitate a visa for his brother to travel to Australia.

Shubham went to Australia on September 1 after graduating from IIT-Madras.

On October 6, at around 10.30 pm, he was returning from an ATM with cash when he was approached by a man who demanded his money and threatened him with a knife. When he refused, the attacker stabbed him repeatedly before running away.

Shubham suffered multiple wounds to his face, chest and abdomen. He managed to go to a nearby house, and was taken to hospital.

“Shubham somehow survived the attack. We found out on October 8 when he didn’t answer my call and we called his friend,” said his father, Ramniwas Garg.

“He had an 11-hour surgery in his abdomen. I request the government to help with my son’s treatment,” he said.

Shubham needed several surgeries, his sister Kavya Garg said in tweets appealing to the government to help the family with emergency visas.

Meanwhile, Australia authorities have denied that there is a racial angle to the assault.

On Thursday Shubham’s sister tweeted: “Update!! My brother is going through multiple operations and doctor said that infection is spreading in body. Requesting @narendramodi for urgent help on this matter.”

Arindam Mukherjee, the spokesman for the ministry of external affairs said, Shubham is hospitalised and officials from the High Commission as well as the consulate are in touch with him as well as with his family members in India.

The Indian mission is also in touch with local authorities over the issue.