Brazen attack on Indian man Narendrakumar Patel at Roma St kept quiet by police media

CourierMail.com.au

Brazen attack on Indian man Narendrakumar Patel at Roma St kept quiet by police media

A SERIOUS knife attack at one of Queensland's busiest train stations during the peak afternoon commuter period was kept quite by authorities.

The Courier-Mail has learnt that an Indian man allegedly had his throat slashed while waiting on Platform 9 at Brisbane's Roma Street Station about 4.20pm on March 17.

A 26-year-old man was charged a short time later after handing himself in at police headquarters, across the road.

It is alleged the heinous attack on Narendrakumar Patel, 34, was seen by police monitoring the station on closed-circuit television screens.

But details of the incident were never released by police despite the high-profile location.

Sources have claimed that a decision was taken by authorities not to release details of the assault, which is certain to fuel fears about train station safety.

It also will spark debate about whether Indians are the target of racially motivated attacks in Queensland, an issue which has raised tension between the Australian and Indian governments after a spate of attacks in Victoria.

Police would not comment on the case, or the decision not to release details.

But Deputy Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the attack struck "at the heart of confidence of all rail commuters" and the public had a right to know about it.

"I hope that this has not been covered up or hosed down by our authorities because of the nationality of the victim," he said.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said train stations were patrolled by 54 officers in the rail squad and more than 100 full-time transit officers and private security guards.

He said the clear-up rate for crime on the rail system was "very good".

Mr Roberts also said he had been briefed on recent incidents involving people from various ethnic backgrounds.

"Some are obviously racially motivated, however police advise me that in their opinion the majority of incidents involving persons from different ethnic backgrounds are not suspected of being racially motivated," he said.

The man accused of attacking Mr Patel was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and carrying a knife in a public place.

It is believed the bluntness of the knife saved Mr Patel from more serious injuries.

Despite police prosecutors opposing bail, the man was released and is due to face court again on April 15.

The incident never came to the public's attention, until now.

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COMMENT: This cover-up by Queensland Police Media of this serious assault on an Indian
National in Brisbane is an international disgrace.  It amounts to police censorship and whoever in
Queensland Police Media is responsible for this, should be summarily dismissed.