Four Teens Arrested After Brutal Machete Attack Leaves Melbourne Man Fighting for His Hand.

The incident occurred on the evening of July 19 near the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, where Saurabh Anand, a 33 year old Indian origin man, was returning home from a local pharmacy. The attack, described by medical personnel as one of the most savage in recent memory, has reignited concerns over youth crime and public safety in the city.

Anand was on a call with a friend when the group of teenagers set upon him. According to statements provided by the victim and corroborated by police, the assault was both swift and terrifying. One attacker rifled angrily through his pockets, another hurled a volley of punches to Anand’s head, and a third pressed a machete to his throat. The victim’s only instinct was to shield his face with his arm a decision that would save his life, but leave his left hand dangling by a thread. “Within seconds, they had surrounded me,” Anand recounted from his hospital bed. “All I remember is the pain, and my hand was hanging by a thread.”

The teens did not stop. Blows from the machete landed on his wrist, then slashed straight through his hand, and finally hacked into the bone. The savagery continued as Anand received further blows to his shoulder, back, and arms, resulting in multiple fractures including an injured spine. As the attackers fled, Anand staggered outside, half-conscious, ultimately managing to flag down help. Bystanders called emergency services, who rushed him to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where a team of surgeons performed marathon procedures involving screws and reconstructive surgery. Doctors initially feared they would have to amputate his left hand, but relentless surgical work managed to reattach it. His recovery remains uncertain the nerves and tendons are severely damaged, and the full use of his hand hangs in the balance.

Within days, Victoria Police announced the arrests of four teenage suspects. A 14 year old from Wyndham faces charges of intentionally causing serious injury and unlawful assault, with a court appearance scheduled for August 15. Two 15 year-olds from Hobsons Bay were also charged but have been released on bail, amid public debate over the appropriateness of such leniency in cases of extreme violence. A fifth suspect remains at large, though authorities express confidence in making further arrests soon.

The attack has reverberated throughout the Indian-Australian community and beyond, sparking outrage and an urgent call for justice. Anand, still recuperating amid uncertainty over his hand’s functionality, voiced his disappointment that some of the suspects have already been granted bail. “I’m seeking justice. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I’ve been through,” he said. Community members have rallied in support, demanding tougher penalties for violent juvenile offenders and a more visible police presence in high-risk areas.

Melbourne officials have also responded. The state’s police minister has addressed the alarming rise in youth violence, calling for closer scrutiny of bail conditions for assault suspects and promising expanded youth intervention programs. Meanwhile, the police investigation continues, with officers scouring camera footage and gathering statements from witnesses willing to step forward.

Melbourne, renowned for its vibrant multiculturalism and sense of community, now faces a reckoning over how to safeguard its streets. For Saurabh Anand and countless residents shaken by this attack, the wounds will need much more than skilled surgery to heal they will require assurance that such brutality will never again be allowed to take root in their city.