NewsGate Press Network

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday the 14th of October 2022,  has red flagged two incidences reported in Australia and Kenya where Indian nationals have been put into distress conditions.

An attack on Indian student had taken place in Sydney, Australia while two Indian nationals have been reported missing in mysterious circumstance in Kenya since mid-July.

Bagchi stated that India has urged the Australian authorities to take action against the perpetrators responsible for stabbing the 28 year old Indian student Shubham Garg in Sydney and asked to expedite the travel documents of the family to visit the student.

He added that “that the issue should seriously be looked into and action be taken against the perpetrators. I would not go into the speculation that whether the attack is racial or not. Our focus is on treatment and that the student becomes out of danger.”

The MEA spokesperson also said that a request has been made to the Australian High Commission to expedite travel documents of the family members so that they can urgently reach Australia and attend their family member.

“We have requested the Australian High Commission here to expedite travel documents so that the family members can urgently go. I know that it was in process as I walked in. We hope that they are able to go and meet their family member there. It’s a shocking incident,” added Bagchi.

The Indian student, identified as Shubham Garg, was stabbed multiple times at the corner of Pacific Highway and Gatacre Avenue Lane Cove in Sydney last week.

He suffered injuries to his face, chest and abdomen and is in a serious condition after undergoing surgery.

Regarding missing persons in Kenya, Arindam Bagchi the Indian government is in continuous touch with the Kenyan authorities and also keeping a close eye on the issue of two nationals including Balaji Telefilms’ ex-COO ( Chief Operations Officer) missing in Kenya since mid-July.
The two Indian nationals, Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and Zaid Sami Kidwai have been missing in Kenya since mid-July and the government is keeping a close eye on this development but is doubtful about their missing.
“A Police complaint has been filed there soon after that. Subsequently, a habeas corpus petition was filed in the Kenyan court,” MEA said.
“We understand this issue is now sub-judice in the High Court of Kenya, and a number of hearings have taken place. I think, recently, this week one hearing took place. Our High Commission has been in continuous touch with the Kenyan authorities. We are also in touch with some family members. Let me emphasize that we are attached to the high consideration and attention to the safety and well-being of Indian nationals as we do with others…We are keeping a close eye on this development, I’m afraid they’re still missing,” Bagchi added during the weekly presser.

According to the Kenyan publication, former Balaji Telefilms COO Zulfiqar Khan and other Indian national Mohamed Zaid Sami Kidwai went missing in mid-July after leaving a popular club in Westlands at 11.53 pm.
Several hours later, two Indian nationals and their driver Nicodemus Mwania, were reported missing. The trio has since been missing for over 70 days.
According to several Kenyan media reports, both Indian nationals were in Kenya to join President William Ruto’s election campaign Information and Communications Technology (ICT) team.
Police officers said that the CCTV footage had been retrieved from the scene of the abduction in a bid to retrace the missing people.