Parramatta: NSW Police investigate assault on Indian-Australian man near Westfield

The friend of a man who was assaulted in a racially-motivated attack has spoken after the shocking incident in daylight in Sydney’s west with community leaders saying such incidents occurred “more often than what we hear”.

woman assaulted a 63-year-old man outside Parramatta Westfield.

Charges are yet to be laid against a woman who witnesses saw attack a 63-year-old Indian-Australian man who has been left shaken after the racially motivated attack at Parramatta on Monday.

The young woman reportedly yelled out to the man, who requested to remain anonymous, “you Indian, f--k off, go back to where you came from” outside Westfield shopping centre just after 5.40pm while he had his head down checking emails on his mobile phone.

The man was with two friends including Shailendra Rawat who witnessed the shocking incident just as they were on their way to a Parramatta Council meeting to hear the item about the Little India monument proposal for Harris Park.

But instead the victim was taken to Auburn Hospital for treatment after suffering what police said was a minor head injury in the unprovoked attack that caused him to bleed when a Caucasian woman punched him.

The man’s friend said he was kept in hospital overnight after suffering concussion and had a “large hole” on the forehead with three marks.

The man was bleeding and stayed in hospital overnight.

“The main thing is they’re not doing this in an isolated place,’’ Mr Rawat said.

“They’re doing it in broad daylight and that’s concerning.

Parramatta police are investigating.

“This is not acceptable in Parramatta, or Sydney or Australia because it’s a multicultural country and we respect each other.’’

Mr Rawat said the woman who charged towards his friend appeared to be aged between 20 and 25.

On Reddit a witness said the woman punched an “old Indian man” in the head while she was accompanied by a male friend.

“There were racist obscenities said by them too,’’ he said.

“The Indian man’s forehead was bleeding.

“Looks like there’s a surge in these kinds of attacks. Just be safe out there.’’

Parramatta councillor Sameer Pandey, who also has Indian heritage, said the incident would not have been isolated and the community was scared.

“I think there is a concern among the community that it’s happening more often than what we hear,’’ he said.

“I think generally these incidents are very concerning for the community.’’

Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton said the victim was “very shaken up’’ and the victim indicated it was common for Indians to be targeted outside Westfield.

“I’ve spoken to police and the view of police is that quite a lot goes unreported,’’ he said.

“I’m horrified that people don’t feel safe in our city.

“I’m hopeful CCTV cameras can continue to help us so this person is brought to justice.’’

Mr Rawat said: “We never did anything wrong so why is this discrimination happening?’’

Police did not answer questions on whether race crimes were frequent in Parramatta or the wider community.

In a statement NSW Police said inquiries were continuing.

Originally published as Parramatta: NSW Police investigate assault on Indian-Australian man near Westfield