Canberra– A 42-year-old Indian-origin man, Gaurav Kundi, is fighting for his life after a violent arrest in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs, during which Australian police allegedly kneed him in the neck. He is currently on life support at the Royal Adelaide Hospital with severe brain and neck injuries, according to local media reports.
Kundi’s family claims that excessive force was used by the officers, causing him to lose consciousness. His wife, Amritpal Kaur, recorded part of the incident, which shows Kundi being restrained on Payneham Road while yelling, “I’ve done nothing wrong.” Kaur can be heard crying and pleading with officers to stop.
“I only managed to film 19 seconds,” Kaur told 9News. “I panicked and sat on the ground with Gaurav. I kept saying, ‘He’s not well, he’s not well. Please don’t do this. Just call an ambulance.’”
Doctors have reportedly informed the family that Kundi’s brain has sustained critical damage. “They said maybe he’ll wake up if the brain starts working. Maybe not,” Kaur said.
Recounting the events leading up to the arrest, Kaur explained that a loud argument between the two had drawn the attention of a police patrol, who mistook it for a case of domestic violence.
“I followed him and said, ‘Let’s go home. You’re drunk. You’re not well,’” she said. “He just pushed me a little, and the police thought he was assaulting me. But that wasn’t the case—he was just loud because he was drunk.”
Kaur alleges that her husband sustained injuries when his head was slammed into the police vehicle and the pavement, and that one of the officers kneed him in the neck while he was already on the ground. She also said she tried to warn officers about Kundi’s pre-existing health conditions.
“His brain is damaged because the officer hit him so hard,” she said. “His health wasn’t good to begin with. His heart isn’t functioning properly. All I can do now is sit with him and pray.”
In response to the incident, South Australia Police have initiated an internal investigation and are reviewing footage from officers’ body-worn cameras. Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia stated he was “comfortable” with the initial evidence, although he acknowledged it reflected only one officer’s perspective.
“This is just one portion of the evidence,” he said. “From what I’ve seen on the bodycam, I’m satisfied, but again, that’s only one angle.”
The case has sparked growing concern over the use of force by police in Australia and the treatment of individuals with medical conditions during arrest procedures. (Source: IANS)
