Family seeks help for Indian missing in Australia

The family of an Indian delivery van driver, who has been missing in Australia for the last three months, has publicly appealed for help here.

Shiva Chauhan, 27, had gone missing after carryout his regular deliveries May 1 with his locked van found next day in Keysborough, a suburb of Melbourne.

Police released pictures of the missing youth, when deliveries were not made and Chauhan did not show up at an arranged meeting next day.

Consequently, police's homicide squad launched a probe into the matter.

In a public appeal broadcast by SBS Punjabi radio Tuesday, Shiva's elder brother Dinesh Chauhan, said: "I came with lot of hope from India to find my brother. But unfortunately, there is no single clue from the police."

Shiva's friends also posted a reward of A$20,000 (nearly $18,730) for anyone who can help trace Shiva.

Dinesh described Shiva as a "loving and jolly-kind of person", who could never intentionally go missing.

Dinesh, who came to Australia only in July, appealed to everyone, including the authorities, to provide any clue to his missing brother who has left his family and relatives devastated back home.

"No clue has been found. I am leaving Melbourne empty handed, just as I came here empty-handed," Dinesh told the radio channel.

Shiva reportedly migrated to Australia on a student visa from Punjab.