Oz ‘circuit breaker’ priests ask Indian student Nitin Garg’s murderer to give up

MELBOURNE - A Melbourne priest Father Bob Maguire and western suburbs youth worker Les Twentyman have called on the person behind the murder of 21-year-old Indian student Nitin Garg to surrender.

Garg was stabbed to death at West Foorscray, a suburb of Melbourne by some goons on the night of January 2, while he was on his way to work.

The duo see themselves as “circuit breakers” in the incident, which has put bilateral relations between Australia and India under pressure, and believe that the culprit, or culprits, behind the killing might be too scared to surrender.

“We could act as circuit breakers. At least the perpetrator would be guaranteed safe passage to the police,” News.com.au quoted Father Maguire, as saying.

Meanwhile, Twentyman believes the attack was racially motivated and said if the offender surrendered he would see to it that he receives good legal representation.

He further said that the “senseless” killing has shaken the western suburbs and the people want to show that they were not racist.

Twentyman is also hoping to organize a community day on Australia Day to bring together the ethnic groups in the area.

“It would give us the chance to show support to the Indian community and to show that we are very multicultural,” Twentyman said.

Earlier, Australia’s Acting Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, had strongly condemned the fatal attack.

“I am obviously worried and distressed to see any act of violence and to see a murder as violent and callous as this one. I unreservedly condemn it. Our sympathies go to the young man’s family,” Gillard had said.

Gillard also reiterated that Australia “is a nation that welcomes international students. More than half a million international students come and study here each year. We want to make them welcome. This is a welcoming and accepting country. As a Government we have worked with our state and territory colleagues and also with universities and individual education providers to make sure that the message of new practical measures to support students are available”.

She added that Australia “has no toleration for racism in any form. We want to make sure that people who come to our country, whether they come as new migrants, as students, as visitors are made welcome. (ANI)