Geelong, Australia: Months after anti-immigration protests in Australia, attacks targeting members of the Indian community continue. On the night of February 17, a 22-year-old Sikh nurse,Indian Sikh Harmanpreet Singh, was allegedly assaulted in Corio, a suburb near Melbourne, in what authorities are describing as a racially motivated attack.
Indian Sikh Harmanpreet, who was training at a local gym around 11 pm, said three men approached him and began verbally abusing him. He did not anticipate the situation would escalate. Later, when he stepped outside, the same three men were reportedly waiting for him.
Details of the Assault
According to Harmanpreet, the men called him a “dog” and told him to “go back to where you came from.” One of the men allegedly headbutted him, striking his nose and causing heavy bleeding. Speaking to 9News, Harmanpreet described the attack: the assailant came very close to his face, then suddenly pulled back and smashed his head into his nose. The three attackers fled the scene immediately afterward.
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Local residents assisted in taking Indian Sikh Harmanpreet to the hospital. Speaking to the media, he said the incident left him deeply shaken. “No one wants to hear that, especially when you are just minding your own business,” he said.
Indian Sikh Family Reacts
Harmanpreet’s family said the attack has had a significant emotional impact. His sister, Khushi Kaur, stated that the family is devastated and struggling to come to terms with the incident.
Indian Sikh Harmanpreet acknowledged that he has faced racial abuse in Australia before, but this latest assault has left him feeling vulnerable and uncertain. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to that gym. I won’t feel safe after this,” he said, adding that he tries to stay strong despite the repeated harassment.