An Indian university student says he doesn’t stay in Australia after he and his mates were caught up in a late night armed burglary in Melbourne’s west on Wednesday.
Manidhar Juturu lives with five of his friends in a two-storey apartment unit in Albion in which one of his mates was held to knifepoint before electronic gadgets and a car were stolen.
The 22-year-old data analytics student says he is reconsidering his plans for staying in Australia.
“I planned to stay on after my degree, but I think I’ll go back now. I’m nervous,” The Australian quoted him as saying.
Prabhadh Ponnamaneni had a knife held to his throat during an armed robbery at the apartment he shares with five other friends in Albion, Melbourne. Source: Nine Network
Mr Juturu’s friend Prabhadh Ponnamaneni was asleep downstairs on a couch when three hooded men entered their apartment and held a kitchen knife to Mr Pnnamaneni’s throat before demanding car keys and electronic gadgets.
Mr Ponnamaneni (32) says the incident has left him shaken too. He moved to Australia last year and was in the process of organising visas for his wife and children. He told 9 News he is rethinking this move after Wednesday night’s incident.
He said though they were aware of incidents of crime in western suburbs of Melbourne but never thought it they would be its victim one day.
"We were six people staying in the house so we thought no-one would actually dare come in,” he said.
The Indian students say they are done with Melbourne’s western suburbs.
One of the alleged intruders, a 21-year-old man, was arrested after the stolen car was crashed a short distance away and was refused bail.
