Indian asylum seeker on hunger strike dies in Austria

VIENNA - An Indian asylum seeker died in an Austrian detention centre Monday, where he was on hunger strike to protest his planned repatriation, police in Vienna said.

The 20-year-old man’s application for refugee status had been rejected earlier this year.

The Indian was identified only as a Sikh named Gaganpreet Singh K., in line with Austrian privacy rules. Several officials contacted did not reveal his exact origin.

Police said doctors had not confirmed a causal relationship between the man’s hunger strike since early August and his death. Forced feeding is not allowed under Austrian law.

K. illegally entered Austria in 2006. After his plea for asylum was turned down, authorities lost track of him, but he was apprehended Aug 3 and detained for deportation.

Austrian refugee aid groups slammed the government for its detention policy, arguing that according to current laws, detention should be used only as a means of last resort.