JOIN USA 20-year-old Indian student in Australia suffered serious injuries when he was brutally attacked with a stick and robbed by thugs here.
Manrajwinder Singh from Reservoir was admitted to hospital with serious head injuries after a gang attacked him yesterday.
According to a police statement issued today, he was sitting with two other friends near the footpath east of Princess Bridge when they were approached by eight men, perceived to be of African appearance.
The offenders assaulted Singh by kicking him on the head and hitting him with a stick.
The group then punched one of his friends in the face. The offenders stole the victims' mobile phones and fled, the statement said.
The third man, a 20-year-old from Noble Park, was not assaulted and managed to run away to seek help.
Singh was taken to The Alfred Hospital where he remains in an induced coma. His friend suffered swelling and abrasions to his face and was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Melbourne detectives have released CCTV images of eight men and a woman who they believe may be able to assist with their investigation.
Singh was in Australia to study accounts.
The incident was described as a cowardly attack by Detective Senior Constable Adam Foley.
"It was just an opportunistic target from the offenders, they've just seen them there and approached them and done what they've done," Foley said.
The victim's brother, Yanwinder Singh, has pleaded for justice.
"He said 'I want to see the city, I haven't seen Melbourne city I've been working and studying,'" his brother was quoted as saying by The Age newspaper.
"He said I want to see the city I'm not a child and I said ok then go.
"I just want these culprits to be punished, that's all, they should get caught so that my brother, he should get justice," Yanwinder said.