The thieves used an angle grinder to cut the statue from its base, according to The Australia Today. After the theft, only the feet of the bronze statue remain on its platform.
“The crime was partially visible on the building’s CCTV and was reported the next day,” said Santosh Kumar, a committee member at the Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust.He expressed his sadness over the statue being stolen and revealed that he saw the offenders wearing face masks.
“We are sorry to see the statue of a national leader is gone…a white van came with people covered in balaclavas…details have been passed on to police,” he said.
Victoria Police Knox Crime Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into the theft and is reviewing CCTV footage from the area.
Police have also warned scrap metal dealers to watch out for anyone trying to sell the bronze statue and to report if they find anything suspicious.
Evan Mulholland, the Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs, said the theft was disheartening.
“I stand with Victoria’s Indian community at this distressing time and urge anyone with information to assist Victoria Police in bringing those responsible to justice. The perpetrators must be held to account,” he said.
It is the same statue that caused uproar in the state, just 24 hours after it was installed. The Gandhi statue was vandalised soon after its unveiling, at a time when there was a rise in anti-India sentiment linked to Khalistan-related extremists.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
