Weapons blitz in wake of Garg killing

Police have found knives, a machete and knuckledusters in a random search for
weapons at a Melbourne railway station, days after Indian student Nitin Garg was
stabbed nearby.
In a show of their resolve to stamp out violent street crime, a team of officers
patrolled Footscray train station on Thursday searching for knives.
The trial search-and-seize blitz, dubbed operation Omni, has been made possible by a
beefing up of police powers and is expected to be expanded to other suburbs.
Police have the power to search individuals at random for knives and other weapons
in designated areas without a search warrant.
People were scanned with a metal detector wand, then frisked and body searched if
required.
In all, 182 people were searched at the station in the three hours to 4pm (AEDT) on
Thursday, police said.
Seven people were found carrying 12 weapons in total.
Police also issued four penalty notices for people carrying alcohol on public
transport, hindering or obstructing an operation, disorderly conduct and
drunkenness.
One person with outstanding warrants was arrested.
Deputy Police Commissioner Kieran Walshe said the operation was a success.
"Today's operation has enabled us to detect these weapons before they are used in
crimes, making the area much safer for train commuters and the broader community,"
he said in a statement.
"It is our intention to run a number of targeted operations in weapons hot spots
this year until we see a reduction in weapon related crimes," he said.
Earlier, Mr Walshe told reporters police were required to give the public seven days
notice of planned search operations but other, intelligence based, searches could be
carried out without warning.
"I am confident that these laws are going to give us a great opportunity to take
weapons out of the community," Mr Walshe said.
Acting Premier Rob Hulls said Nitin Garg's death "confirms absolutely that we have
to do everything we can to support police to wipe out street crime, to wipe out
knife-related crime, and that's why these powers are so important".
Mr Hulls and the deputy commissioner met with the Indian high commissioner and
consul general on Thursday to reassure them that Victoria was doing everything
possible to bring Mr Garg's killer to justice.
They also sought to assure the Indian diplomats that Victoria was a safe place to
study.
Mr Garg, 21, was stabbed in a park late Saturday night as he walked to his part-time
job at a Hungry Jack's restaurant.
He died later in hospital.