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Ensure Punjabi youths safety in Australia, PM urged

Updated - 5/1/2010 - IANS.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure the safety of youths from the state studying or working in Australia, following the killing of a youth in Melbourne Saturday.

"Badal has urged the prime minister to ensure the safety and security of Punjabi youths who had gone to Australia to pursue higher education or for other vocations," a government spokesperson said here Monday.

Badal, in a statement issued here, requested the prime minister to direct the external affairs ministry to take up this issue with the Australian government.

"Vengeance and hatred have no place in the society. It is a constitutional and diplomatic obligation of every nation and government to ensure safety and security of foreign guests on its land," Badal said.

Nitin Garg, 21, migrated to Australia from Jagraon town in Ludhiana district around three years ago. Garg, who had gained a status of permanent resident, was stabbed on death in Melbourne’s northern suburb of West Footscray Jan 2.

His body will be brought to India Wednesday for cremation at his home town.

Meanwhile, officials met Garg’s family members at their house in Jagraon and assured them of all government help.

Garg’s uncle Varinder Kumar also wrote to the prime minister Sunday, seeking action against those who killed his nephew.

"We got a call from the Australian authorities yesterday (Sunday), informing us that Nitin had died after some people attacked him. They told us that Nitin was going to his work place when he was attacked. Some people tried to snatch his mobile phone. When he resisted, they stabbed him and ran away," Varinder Kumar said Monday.

Garg last visited his family in December and returned to Australia 20 days ago.

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