Australia: Another Hate Crime Against Indians As Sikh Nurse Faces Racial Abuse, Attacked In Victoria Gym

New Delhi: A horrific incident of a brutal racially motivated attack has occurred outside a gym in the Corio suburb of Geelong, in the Australian state of Victoria. Three unidentified men not only insulted 22-year-old Sikh nurse Harmanpreet Singh by calling him "Indian Dog" but also headbutted him, causing serious injury. This incident occurred recently and has sparked outrage within the Indian community.

What was the incident?

According to reports, the harassment began while Harmanpreet Singh was training inside the gym, but after his workout, the three men were waiting for him outside. A video shows a well-built, white man, wearing a tight white T-shirt and beige pants, first yelling "Indian Dog" and then yelling "Indian Dog." According to Harmanpreet, the man came very close to his face, then suddenly stepped back and headbutted his nose, causing immediate bleeding.

He stated that after the incident, the attackers fled in a gray sedan. It was reported that Harmanpreet Singh had to stay in the hospital overnight. According to an Australia Today report, he has been advised to consult a specialist. It was reported that surgery may be necessary. Currently, Harmanpreet is expected to be discharged from the hospital after a week.

What did Harmanpreet Singh say?

The report states that this was not the first time he had faced racial abuse, but the incident had a profound impact on him mentally. He said, "I try to keep myself strong and not worry about such things, but it hurts a lot." He further said that he does not know whether he will return to the gym or change his schedule because he will not feel safe there anymore. His sister, Khushi Kaur, said that the entire family is in deep shock.

It's worth noting that in December of last year, a mass shooting occurred at Sydney's Bondi Beach, killing 15 people during the Jewish Hanukkah celebration. One of the shooters was from Hyderabad and held an Indian passport, although he had settled in Australia three decades ago. The Indian-origin community is the second-largest expatriate community in Australia. As of June 2023, approximately 845,800 people of Indian origin lived there.