Devarshi Deka, a 32-year-old Indian student studying in Australia, was left paralysed for life after he was assaulted in Hobart, a city in Australia’s Tasmania province. The murderous attack left Deka, who quit his government job to study in Australia, a paraplegic and he is also losing his power of sight in his left eye.
Devarshi Deka’s parents are also struggling financially to support his rehabilitation. According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Devarshi Deka, 32, known as Dev, arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, in 2023.
He was planning to get a master’s degree in Professional Accounting at the University of Tasmania. He had gone out to celebrate with friends after securing a part-time job in Australia but 25-year-old, Benjamin Dodge Collings, assaulted him causing deadly injuries.
Benjamin Dodge Collings was arrested shortly after the assault but was granted bail later. Collings was charged with criminal code assault, which could lead to imprisonment for 21 years if convicted but the court case is yet to be finalised.
Deka has made strides in his recovery but his medical insurance that came along with the student visa is going to expire soon. The ABC report said that Deka’s student visa expires in March 2025.
Following his assault in November, he was put in a medically induced coma for three and a half months. Deka suffered severe brain injury and may not be able to walk again.
“My body has a mind of its own. It doesn’t want to move according to my wish like before. [It’s] very grim and bleak, very bad for the last few months. If I want to make a move in the bed, if I want to turn to the side, I need to call up the nurses to help me do that,” Deka told the broadcaster.
He is currently being taken care of by a repatriation centre at Hobart but he does not have access to Centrelink or the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) of Australia which is necessary for his continued care and rehabilitation.
“Right now, Devarshi is being supported by his insurance while he makes medical progress. But once that ends, there is no support available for him here,” his friend Rishabh Kaushik said.
His parents and friends have appealed to Tasmania’s Victims of Crime Service for financial assistance as the cost of necessary specialist equipment and support is beyond the means of Deka’s family.
Deka’s only option would be to return to India but his loved ones fear he will not get proper medical attention back home as his home is in a rural area.
His friend set up a GoFundMe page to assist with Deka’s immediate needs and has urged for long-term support.
To add insult to injury, Deka’s parents, Kula and Deepalee Deka, also faced racial abuse while caring for their son, the broadcaster said in its report. However, they remain hopeful that the Australian government will ensure that his recovery in Hobart continues.
The University of Tasmania (UTAS) continues to provide various forms of support for Deka and his family, including accommodation but it is unclear how long they will keep doing so.
“This is a terrible situation for Devarshi and his family, and the university has been doing all we can to support them,” James Brann, pro vice-chancellor at UTAS, told the broadcaster.
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