An Indian man hailing from Haryana has been deported from Australia after serving a jail sentence on charges of attacking Sikhs. Vishal Jood, 25, went to study in Australia and he was convicted for assaults on Sikhs in September last year and February this year. He was in prison after he was held guilty. Later, under a plea bargain, some charges were withdrawn and he was convicted for 12 months with parole after six months.
In a statement, Australia’s Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke MP, confirmed that the Australian Government immediately assisted an Indian national to depart Australia on the first available flight to India. “The man was an unlawful non-citizen at the time of his arrest. The Morrison Government takes very seriously its responsibility to protect Australians from non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct. We will always act decisively to protect our community”,” the minister stated.
Jood’s deportation from Australia was accompanied by a strongly-worded statement from the Australian minister, Alex Hawke. “Attempts to undermine Australia’s social cohesion will not be tolerated,” Mr. Hawke tweeted.
“I thank community leaders who have worked to build cross-community unity and resilience against attempts by a small minority to incite discord and disharmony, demonstrating the importance and benefit of our nation’s strong social cohesion,” the Australian minister tweeted.
Under the Migration Act, non-citizens who commit serious crimes can be deported at the end of their jail sentence. According to reports, the investigation revealed Jood’s alleged connection to a series of targeted attacks on members of the Sikh community. Earlier in June this year, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had asked the Australian authorities to release him.
