Canberra, Australia: Kundi lost consciousness after being brought to the ground, with one officer allegedly pressing a knee into his neck — a tactic reminiscent of the 2020 George Floyd incident in the U.S.
An Indian-origin man is in critical condition in Australia following a physical confrontation with police, during which he was reportedly tackled and had a knee placed on his neck. Gaurav Kundi, 42, a father of two, is currently on life support with suspected brain trauma after a violent altercation with officers in Adelaide.
According to Australia Today, Kundi and his partner, Amritpal Kaur, were allegedly having a public disagreement in Adelaide's eastern suburbs during the early hours of Thursday.
A nearby police patrol reportedly misinterpreted the situation as a domestic dispute, despite Kaur clarifying that Kundi was only intoxicated and noisy, not aggressive.
Police told 9News that Kundi 'resisted arrest with force' before he became unresponsive while restrained on the ground. Kaur captured the incident on video, which was later obtained by 9News. In the footage, Kundi is heard shouting as several officers attempt to hold him against a police vehicle.
'I haven't done anything wrong,' he yelled, as Kaur recorded the scene, pleading with police to release him and accusing them of mishandling the situation.
Kundi reportedly lost consciousness after being forced to the ground, with one officer allegedly using a knee to pin his neck — drawing parallels to the method used in George Floyd's high-profile case in the United States.
'I stopped recording because I panicked when I saw the officer kneel on him,' Kaur told 9News, adding that Kundi's head struck both the police car and the road during the struggle.
Kundi was transported to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where doctors said he had sustained serious injuries to both his brain and the nerves in his neck. Kaur, devastated, fears he may never emerge from his coma.
In response, South Australia Police have initiated an internal review and are examining footage from body-worn cameras.
Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia told 9News that preliminary evidence suggests the officers acted within protocol, although the investigation is ongoing.
'Based on the footage I've reviewed so far, which comes from one body camera, I feel the officer involved acted appropriately — but it represents only part of the overall event,' he said.
