#BreakingNews: 420 kg Gandhi Statue Stolen from Melbourne Community Centre
Bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi disappears from Australian Indian Community Centre amid rising anti-India tensions.
In a shocking theft, a 426-kilogram bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was stolen from outside the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, early Monday morning. The statue, a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), held immense cultural and symbolic importance for the Indian diaspora in Australia. Police say three unidentified individuals used an angle grinder to sever the statue from its foundation, leaving only its feet behind.
The incident was partially captured on CCTV, according to Santosh Kumar, a committee member of the Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust. He reported that a white van carrying the masked offenders was seen at the scene, and the matter was immediately passed to Victoria Police’s Knox Crime Investigation Unit. Authorities have alerted scrap metal dealers to watch for the stolen bronze statue and report any suspicious activity.
The statue had been inaugurated on November 12, 2021, by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and was targeted by vandals within 24 hours of installation. The latest theft marks a significant escalation in attacks on Indian cultural symbols in Australia, causing distress to the local Indian community.
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This theft occurs amid growing anti-India sentiment in the region, with links to Khalistan-related extremist groups. Similar incidents have targeted Indian diplomatic missions, community centres, and places of worship. In July 2025, the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia was defaced with racist graffiti, alongside attacks on nearby Asian-run restaurants.
The Victoria Police are actively investigating the crime and have urged residents and businesses to provide any information that could lead to the statue’s recovery. Community leaders have condemned the act, describing it as “an affront to Indian heritage and values,” while calling for heightened vigilance around cultural sites.
The Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust stated that efforts are underway to strengthen security and prevent further incidents, emphasizing that the stolen statue represents not just art, but the legacy and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi cherished worldwide.
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