INDIAN STUDENT ATTACKED – AUSTRALIA
October 3rd, 2009 by | Posted in News Comments Off on INDIAN STUDENT ATTACKED – AUSTRALIA
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Despite the assurances given by the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Judd to the Indian Foreign Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna, during the latters’ visit to Australia in June 09, regarding safety of Indian students, the attacks on Indian residents there, have gone unabated. A 28 year old student from the Indian community was attacked with a “plank of wood or a baseball bat” by two men which left him with 20 stitches in his head.
The 28-year-old student, whose name was not declared, was attacked by the men after he got down from a bus at Keilor Plains train station on Tuesday.
Constable Kevin Squires, of Footscray police, described the attack as callous and unprovoked.
As per reports published in Age newspaper, the victim received 20 stitches in his head after the attack in Melbourne. Rudd had assured that extra patrolling will be beefed up in all sensitive places including bus stations as well as railway stations. He had also assured that the law would be amended to include racial attacks a cognizable offence, carrying severe penalty.
“The victim got off a bus at Keilor Plains train station at 12.15 am on September 29 and was walking down Power Street when he was approached by two men,” police said. Thereafter the two men asked him for a cigarette and he gave one to both of them. As he turned to walk away, he was hit over the head at least six times with a “plank of wood or a baseball bat”.
He was knocked unconscious and the offenders made off with his backpack, police were quoted as saying by the newspaper.
One of the attackers was Caucasian and about 162 centimetres tall, aged 19 and wearing a red hoodie with a cap underneath. The other one was a dark skinned, about 16 years old and about 172 centimetres tall, said the press report.
Around 30 Indian students were attacked in various cities from June to August. Last month, four Indians, an Uncle, his two nephews and his son, were “brutally bashed” by a mob of around 70 youth while playing pool here.
Victoria’s Premier John Brumby and Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland had earlier confirmed that some of the attacks were racially motivated. Australian High Commissioner to India, John McCarthy, also said there was an element of racism involved in the attacks.
Julia Gillard, Australian Deputy Prime Minister, on her recent visit to India, had also assured that remedial actions would be in place to protect the interests of the International students in Australia, but to no avail.
The Australian federal police had earlier raided the office of a Sydney-based Indian migration agent Sanjay Deshwal and one Sam Tejani after ABC News claimed that he was involved in a scam of exploiting foreign students and recommending Indian students to particular universities. As per reports appearing in the news papers they were also acting as the middlemen in provision of fake certificates. We are still not aware of the action taken or purported to be taken against them, as providing false documents is a serious crime in Australia.
Indian taxi drivers also held a demonstration in Melbourne, demanding better security for them.
Sydney and Melbourne are the two cities which are sensitive and most of the demonstrations by Indian students have been held here demanding action against the perpetrators of this senseless racial crime.
Education is a billion dollar industry in Australia and the Australian authorities will have to take prompt and decisive measures to stem this rot.
Ravi Matah.
Tags: Indian attacked, Kevin Judd, Krishna, Melbourne, Racial violence, Sam Tejani, Sanjay Deshwal
