Australian police step up probe into Garg murder

MELBOURNE - Investigation into the stabbing murder of Indian student Nitin Garg was stepped up as the Australian police have released video clippings of the last moments of the victim and re-enacted his final steps on the spot.

A team of detectives of Victoria police Saturday tried to trace clues across the road from the Hungry Jack’s restaurant in West Footscray through Cruickshank Park of the city.

The 21-year-old accounting graduate, who was originally from Punjab, was working as a part-time employee of the restaurant where he staggered in after being stabbed at the nearby Park Jan 2.

A closed-circuit television footage of Garg arriving at Yarraville railway station on the night of his murder was released. It showed him wearing a black and white striped hooded jumper.

The officials of the detective squad also re-enacted the final movements of Garg at Yarraville station Saturday night, The Age reported.

“We are hoping doing this helps jog someone’s memory of any information from that night,” Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Snare said.

“Anyone who may have seen (Garg) or been in the park from about 9.30 to 10 p.m. on that night, we are asking to come forward even if you think your information may be minor,” he said.

As part of the re-enactment, the group walked from Yarraville station up Anderson Street, turning left on to Severn Street and right on to Austin Crescent East, where they went through Cruickshank Park and across Somerville Road to Hungry Jack’s.

“Someone in the community knows who has committed this horrendous crime,” Senior Sergeant Snare said.

There has been a wave of attacks on Indian students since May last year. After a brief lull, these have recurred in the last two months, with two of the incidents proving fatal.