Melbourne, Jul 22 (IANS): An Indian student, recuperating in a hospital here with fractures in his jaw after being brutally beaten up by six men, is unable to eat and talk properly, his friend said Thursday.

Bharat Thapar, 24, is in hospital with plates in his jaw and "bruises all over his body" after a brawl in South Oakleigh Monday night left him with four fractures to his lower jaw, The Age reported.

"He's still in a bad way and will not be able to eat for up to five weeks," said Bharat's friend Sumeet Khanna.

Bharat is unable to talk properly, Khanna said, adding that police had failed to interview the witnesses.

Khanna, interpreting for Thapar, said two of his friends had been driving through the Oakleigh area, when they saw another Indian man being abused by up to six men.

"Bharat went to his aid and he said that up to six of them had turned on him, beating him and abusing him, telling him to 'leave this place'," he said. Bharat's friend was allegedly being held, while the other Indian man called the police.

Meanwhile, police said they were investigating a number of conflicting reports of the incident.

According to Victoria Police spokesman, the initial incident appeared to have been sparked when somebody parked a car in front of a mechanic's workshop and refused to move it. A group of men then physically moved the car and a scuffle is believed to have developed. Thapar arrived with his friend in a car and the confrontation escalated.