A 29-year-old Indian-origin bus driver was charred to death on Friday when a man set him on fire after pouring some flammable liquid on him in front of horrified passengers in Brisbane town in Australia.
Manmeet Alisher, who was driving a Brisbane City Council bus, was targeted by a man who threw an “incendiary device” at him which sparked a fire.
Alisher, a well-known singer in the Punjabi community, died on the spot while several passengers on board the bus at the time managed to escape through the rear door, police said.
Six persons were rushed to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, they said. Police have charged a 48-year-old Morooka man, identified as Anthony O’Donohue for the crime. He threw an “incendiary device” at him which sparked a fire.
Detectives from South Brisbane district and the state crime command’s homicide group have commenced a homicide investigation, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said.
Preliminary inquiries indicate just after 9 AM (local time) passengers were boarding a bus on Beaudesert Road when a man threw an item at the driver causing fire, police said. Police said the bus, carrying six passengers, pulled into Moorvale Shopping Centre on Beaudesert Road to pick up three passengers when the incident took place.
Flags will be flown at half mast across Brisbane on Saturday as a mark of respect for the Alisher. Stewart ruled out any possibilities of the attack being a racially motivated one, saying there was no such indication.
“There is no evidence at this time of any linkage to terrorist-type activities and certainly that has not become evident through the ongoing investigations that have occurred.
We do not believe there is any evidence at this stage linking this to a racial complaint or concern by either of the people involved,” Stewart said.
“While we do not know the actual motive at this stage, I want to reassure the community that we take these incidents very seriously and that is why as a precaution, officers from the state security and counter terrorism group have also been involved,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Punjabi community in Brisbane expressed shock over the death of Alisher.
PUNJAB VILLAGE IN SHOCK
Residents of Alisher village in Punjab's Sangrur district were in shock on Friday after the sudden news of 29-year-old Indian origin bus driver, Manmeet Alisher, being charred to death in Brisbane city of Australia's Queensland state reached here.
The parents of the victim were only told that there was an accident involving Alisher's bus and that he was injured. They were not informed that he had been killed in the burning incident.
His younger brother, Amit Sharma, was on Friday preparing to leave for Australia to claim the body.
Villagers said that they were shocked to hear of the brutal and untimely death of Alisher, saying he was a promising and hard-working man.
The attack took place when Alisher, who was driving a Brisbane City Council bus, pulled into Moorvale Shopping Centre on Beaudesert Road to pick up more passengers.
A 48-year-old man at the scene was arrested after he allegedly boarded the bus in Brisbane before "throwing some type of incendiary device at the driver", Manmeet Alisher, Xinhua news agency quoted police as saying.
"We have not informed our parents about his death. They will not be able to bear the shock. He was preparing to come home in December to get married. He has been killed mercilessly," said his brother.
Manmeet Alisher, a soft-spoken man, had migrated to Australia nine years back. He was a singer and also organised events there, besides driving the bus. He had also opened a restaurant there.
Seeking a high-level investigation into the incident from the Australian government, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh said that he was shocked at the brutal killing.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said Alisher was one of its volunteers in Australia and mourned his death.
"Manmeet Alisher, AAP volunteer from Australia, was murdered," tweeted AAP leader Durgesh Pathak. "We stand by his family in these tough times."
Alisher's death was also mourned by AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas and Preeti Sharma Menon, both from the AAP Overseas Wing.
"Devastating news," Menon tweeted. "AAP volunteer killed in shocking attack. He will be missed."
Alisher's actual name was Manmeet Sharma. Local media reported that Alisher was a popular Indian singer and a prominent figure in Brisbane's Punjabi community. He was described as a soft spoken, courteous and genuine man.
The Australian media reported that flags will be flown at half mast across Brisbane on Saturday.
