IANS

Melbourne, Aug 9: An Indian student in Australia sustained serious injuries after he was attacked by a group of men in Melbourne.

Sajan Nanada, 25, along with two other friends was in a car in the south Melbourne area last Friday when a group of men approached their vehicle with what was apparently an intention to smash the windscreen of their vehicle, according to a report on the website of Indian Link, an ethnic Indian newspaper.

Sajan's friend, Harry, who was at the wheel, immediately sensed trouble and drove off. They then parked near a McDonald's restaurant and decided to go in to have food.

But before they could enter the restaurant, they were accosted by the men who were of Caucasian appearance.

The trio then fled the scene but Sajan decided to run towards a nearby petrol station, hoping that someone there would save him, according to the report.

He, however, tripped and fell and the attackers caught up with him. He was first hit on the head and then beaten up all over. The attackers fled after he became unconscious.

He sustained injuries on his head, face and arms.

"I was aware that students here face problems from druggies and drunks in public places late in the night, but this was worse than I could ever imagine," the student, who is now recuperating, told Indian Link.

Sajan had had come to Australia from Ferozepur, in Punjab, only four months ago to study accounting at the Central Queensland University.