Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:19pm on 03 Feb 2026,Tuesday India Global
India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the theft of a 426-kg bronze Mahatma Gandhi statue from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, demanding swift action and recovery. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed India raised the matter firmly with Australian authorities. The statue, gifted by India's ICCR and inaugurated by former PM Scott Morrison in 2021, was stolen by three unidentified individuals around 12:50 am on January 12. CCTV footage partially captured the theft showing a white van and balaclava-clad suspects. Victoria Police's Knox Crime Investigation Unit is investigating and has alerted scrap metal dealers. The incident has triggered concern within Melbourne's Indian-Australian community.
