“They didn’t stop there,” Anand recounts from his hospital bed, days after undergoing multiple surgeries to reattach his severed left hand. The brutal attack took place at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, leaving Anand with life-altering injuries. “My instinctive reaction was to bring my arm up to protect my face and wrist. While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack, the machete went through my hand … the third went through my bone.”
Anand alleges he was further slashed and stabbed in the shoulder and back. “I was just trying to survive,” he recalls, describing the excruciating pain and the sight of his hand hanging by a thread. “I was just tumbling around, half-concussed, half-conscious.”
Surge in Knife Violence Across Melbourne
Anand’s experience is part of a troubling trend of increasing knife violence in Melbourne. Just a day after his attack, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed at Broadmeadows Central Shopping Centre, approximately 30 kilometers away. The incidents highlight a growing concern for public safety in the city.
After Anand cried out for help, strangers found him bloodied outside the shopping centre and called emergency services. “I saw someone and I just yelled out, ‘I’ve been attacked. Please help me’,” the sales representative explains.
Medical Battle and Legal Proceedings
Initially, doctors feared they would have to amputate Anand’s left hand, but surgeons managed to reattach it after hours of complex surgery, which involved inserting screws into his wrist and hand. Despite the success of the surgery, Anand faces a long recovery. “The doctors say my injuries are so severe that they are unsure how this is going to go,” he shares. “They are not sure my arm would ever recover 100 percent or regain full functionality. I cannot move my hand … All I feel in it is pain.”
Several teenagers were arrested in connection with Anand’s attack. A 14-year-old appeared in Children’s Court, charged with multiple offenses, including intentionally causing serious injury and robbery. He was remanded in custody until August 15. Two 15-year-olds were also charged but were bailed and will face court on August 11.
Community Impact and Calls for Change
Anand expresses distress over the release of some suspects back into the community. “I’m seeking justice,” he states. “I don’t want anyone else in the community to be going through the same trauma I have. I want this to be a catalyst for change for society where people can understand the consequences of doing this to another human.”
In response to the rise in knife-related crimes, a full ban on possessing a machete will be implemented on September 1. The decision comes as police report making a record 208 arrests a day and seizing an unprecedented number of edged weapons.
“It took the United Kingdom 18 months to bring about a ban on the machetes in their nation. We’re doing it in less than six, and it comes into place on the 1st of September,” said a government spokesperson.
Looking Ahead
The announcement of the machete ban is a step towards addressing the issue, but many believe more needs to be done to prevent such violence. Community leaders and experts are calling for comprehensive strategies that include education, community engagement, and support services for at-risk youth.
As Anand continues his recovery, his story serves as a stark reminder of the real and personal impact of violence. His hope is that his ordeal will spark meaningful change and prevent others from suffering similar fates.
