Oz cops rule out racial motive in Indian woman’s murder

Australian police on Monday said there was nothing to suggest that the brutal murder of an Indian woman IT professional in a Sydney suburb was racially motivated.

“Could this be a random attack? Well, yes it could. It could be a whole range of scenarios... and we are considering all of them,” New South Wales (NSW) Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Michael Willing said.

“We are hoping this will jog the memory of anyone who was in the vicinity of Argyle Street, Park Parade or Amos Street that evening, and encourage them to come forward and speak with police,” Willing said.

The NSW police has launched a probe following the stabbing of 41-year-old Prabha Arun Kumar, who was on the phone with her husband in India, when the attack occurred on Saturday in Westmead. Consul General of India in Sydney Sanjay Sudhir said, “I have spoken to a lot of people, a lot of agencies and there is no evidence which I have seen which indicates any racial undertone to this attack. Prabha’s husband happened to be the last person she spoke to because at that time she was talking to him on mobile.” 

A special detective squad -- Strike Force Marcoala -- which comprises of police from Parramatta Local Area Command and State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad has been formed to investigate the death.

NSW Premier Mike Baird during a telephonic conversation with Sudhir assured India that the perpetrators of the fatal knife attack on Prabha will be brought to justice.

Baird condemned the assault and said, “I was shocked and horrified to hear about the attack on Prabha Arun Kumar and my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this devastating time.” 

“This was a brutal and cowardly attack on a member of the public that is now being investigated by a dedicated team of police officers and detectives. I have every confidence that Strike Force Marcoala will use every resource available to help bring the perpetrators of this horrific crime to justice,” he said. 

Prabha’s distraught husband Arun Kumar and their 9-year- old daughter had reached Australia from Bangalore to formally identify her body. 

Sudhir, Kumar and a representative of the victim’s employer Mindtree, an IT firm, had a meeting with the NSW police during which they were informed about the special detective squad being formed to probe the attack, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson said in New Delhi. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she was pained to know about the murder and that she was in constant touch with India’s Consulate in Sydney which is providing all help.

“I am pained to know about murder of Prabha Arun Kumar in Sydney. Our Consulate is in touch with her company there and we promise all help. “I am in constant touch with our Consulate in Sydney. The Consulate is providing all help. I have just spoken to Mr Arun Kumar, husband of the victim. He is satisfied with the assistance from the Consulate,” she said.

Meanwhile, police on Monday released the CCTV footage of Prabha walking from the Parramatta train station just before she was fatally stabbed.