Police search for missing Indian man on Australian island

Police were searching a beach on Phillip Island, 140 km south-southeast of Melbourne, for clues to the suspicious disappearance of an Indian delivery van driver who went missing last year, media reported Tuesday.

Shiva Chauhan, 27, went missing after carrying out his regular deliveries May 1 last year with his locked van found next day in Keysborough, a suburb of Melbourne, The Melbourne Age reported.

He was last seen at a bakery in Dandenong South about 12.30 a.m. the following day.

Concerns were raised after Chauhan failed to make his deliveries and also failed to turn up to a pre-arranged meeting May 2 last year.

Chauhan's delivery van was found on Hutton Road in Keysborough about 3 p.m. the same day.

Police searched the area, but did not find any clue to reach him.

Chauhan has not been seen since.

Police now have information to suggest that Chauhan may have been taken to Phillip Island in the early hours of May 2.

Detectives also believe a stolen maroon 2006 Toyota Camry sedan may have been involved in Chauhan's disappearance.

Officers from the cold case and missing persons squad and the dog squad began searching Flynn's Beach on Phillip Island, alongside state emergency service volunteers Tuesday.

"The search is expected to go for most of the day," police spokeswoman Natalie Webster was quoted as saying.