Sydney, Jan 10 (IANS) Two men were detained at Sydney airport for questioning over the murder of an Indian man whose partially burnt body was found a fortnight ago. They were let off but their passports have been seized, a media report said Sunday.
The two men were apparently employed by Ranjodh Singh, 25, whose partially burnt body was found beside Wilga road, Willbriggie, in southwest New South Wales, Dec 29.
The two men were stopped by the police at the Sydney Airport departure lounge on Monday as they were about to board a flight to Nepal via Singapore. Both were questioned about their relationship to Ranjodh Singh, Sydney Morning Herald reported Sunday.
The two, believed to be seasonal workers employed by Singh, were taken to police station for questioning, but were later released after having their passports confiscated.
Police officials are looking into claims that Singh, who recruited Indian immigrants to work on farms, may have been murdered Dec 27 in a fight over unpaid money to workers.
Ranjodh Singh's body, which had been set alight in an attempt to conceal his identity, was found two days later by a passer-by.
A post-mortem examination showed that his throat had been slit and he had suffered multiple stab wounds.
There have been a string of attacks on Indians in Australia, causing an outcry in India. Two of the vicious attacks proved fatal.
While Ranjodh Singh's body was found Dec 29, another Indian, Nitin Garg, was fatally stabbed in Melbourne Jan 2. In a fresh attack, Jaspreet Singh, a 29-year-old Indian man, was set ablaze Saturday by four unidentified men at Essendon in Melbourne.