'Manmeet's Paradise': Brisbane park named after slain bus driver

Manmeet Alisher, the Brisbane bus driver killed in a random attack, is remembered with a park named in his honour.

29-year-old Manmeet was popular within the Punjabi community in Australia as a known singer and a showbiz promoter.

29-year-old Manmeet was popular within the Punjabi community in Australia as a known singer and a showbiz promoter. Source: Supplied

Family and friends of an Indian singer and bus driver burnt to death in Brisbane a year ago have unveiled a memorial in a park named in his honour on the anniversary of the fatal firebombing.

Manmeet Alisher was burnt to death in the driver's seat of his council bus after he was doused with flammable liquid by an assailant.

Eleven passengers on the bus were rescued by a former refugee from South Sudan in an incident that was reported worldwide with suggestions of a racial motive.
A man charged with murder is yet to face court and the family is seeking justice.

"My heart is full of grief, I don't know what to say, what not to say in this place after one year," his brother Amit Alisher told the memorial service, which was attended by hundreds of people in the Brisbane suburb of Moorooka.

Last year, India's prime minister Narendra Modi called counterpart Malcolm Turnbull to express his concern.

"One thing we must say and must appreciate, though Manmeet is no more, the people of Australia stood by the grieving family, it's a wonderful gesture," said Indian MP Menjinder Singh Sirsa, who accompanied Manmeet's sisters and father to Australia for the memorial.

The 29-year-old, also known as Manmeet Sharma, was a popular Punjabi singer with film star ambitions. He described Australia as a "paradise".

"Manmeet was a brilliant artist, he had big dreams, and came to Australia to fulfil his dreams," said family spokesman Winnerjit Goldy.

The memorial in Moorooka is just metres from where the tragedy occurred and will be renamed "Manmeet's Paradise", reflecting his aspirations and love for Australia.

"To the family, again we express our deep sorrow and trust that you will be comforted in knowing that Manmeet's memory will live on through the dedication of this park," Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk told the memorial service.
maneet_alisher_justice.jpg?itok=S0VkgTPj
In attendance was South Sudanese taxi driver Aguek Nyok, who kicked in the bus door to let 11 people escape.

By terrible coincidence, and unbeknown to this heroic former refugee, the driver of the bus was his friend.

"He'd be grateful to know what had happened after he was gone, and by gone I mean the body is gone but his soul is always with us and the memory is always with us," said Mr Nyok.

The accused has been charged with one count of murder and 11 of attempted murder , but cannot be identified for legal reasons.

"It's a really heinous crime, murder of humanity," said Alisher family spokesman Winnerjit Goldy.

"The whole world is waiting for justice, the whole world is looking towards Australia, what Australia is doing for justice, whether Manmeet gets justice or not."

As a result of Manmeet’s death, buses in Brisbane have been modified with more safety exits.

A fund set up by the Brisbane City Council has received more than $100,000 in donations for his family.

-- With AAP
Family and friends of Manmeet Alisher have gathered in Brisbane on the anniversary of his death.
Family and friends of Manmeet Alisher have gathered in Brisbane on the anniversary of his death. Source: SBS World News

Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

By Stefan Armbruster



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world