April 23, 2015

I am pleased to know that an eighteen years old man has been arrested and charged today for the shootings at a business, owned by an Indian Australian, in Wigram Street, Harris Park on Saturday, 18th April, 2015.

http://www.parramattasun.com.au/story/3031024/charges-laid-following-granville-shooting/

Multiple gun shots (about 10) were fired at the business in a brazen fashion during broad day light at 2.30 PM. A few shots were fired in the air and the remaining were fired through the window, targeting the inside of the business. No one was injured, thankfully, but there were 3 members of the staff inside at the time. There could have been fatalities inside the business. The owner of the premises was away working in a different place of Sydney at the time. Wigram Street was full of people at the time.

After gun shots, the gunman ran away from the crime scene, but his pictures were captured by CCTV. I understand, but can not say with full authority, that he had a minor collision with a car nearby, touching the car with his hands. This car too was identified by the CCTV and was later traced. I understand that finger prints were obtained.

Firing in the broad Day light at a shop in a busy suburb created significant concern and panic among people in general, and Indian Australians in particular. Eggs throwings at the businesses in Harris Park have happened before, but Gun shots have never been fired.

This matter was covered extensively by media in Australia and India.

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http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/04/19/18/57/staff-hide-as-gunman-shoots-at-sydney-office-in-brazen-daylight-attack?fb_action_ids=953412064692803&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B968276336539215%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/masked-gunman-fires-shots-in-australia-no-one-injured/articleshow/46968598.cms?from=mdr

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gunman-on-the-run-as-shots-fired-in-harris-park-20150418-1mny11.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/masked-gunman-fires-shots-in-australia-no-one-injured/article1-1338544.aspx

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We are happy and relieved that the alleged perpetrator has been arrested, charged and produced in a Court, which refused the bail for him.

As the Court proceedings progress, we will know about the motives and people behind these shootings.

NSW Police deserves “Thank you” for a fast and thorough investigation, leading to the arrest and charging of the alleged culprit. I was in Harris Park for several hours on the day and saw how meticulously the local Police did their job. Wigram Street was closed for about 6 hours, while forensic investigation was conducted.

While we are happy with this outcome in this case, we continue to remain concerned that there has not been any arrest and charging of anyone for the cold-blooded murder of Ms Prabha Arun Kumar in a Laneway in Parramatta Park, more than 6  weeks ago, on 7th March, 2015.

Our community is going through serious distress and disquiet about the current status of this crime.

It might be helpful if NSW Police and/or Indian Consulate in Sydney can devise a mechanism to keep the community in the information loop, sharing only that part of information, which does not affect the ongoing investigation.

Dr Yadu Singh, Sydney, NSW

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