Two Indian students attacked in Melbourne, five charged

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jan 26 (PTI) Two Indian students were punched,
pushed to the ground and kicked by a mob here in the eighth
such incident in Australia in a fortnight leading to the
arrest of nine persons, five of whom were booked for assault.

The two victims, aged 20 and 22, told the police they
were approached and attacked by people from a large group on
Swanston Street in Melbourne Central last night.
The attackers, described as being of Asian appearance,
had allegedly made comments to the duo before one of the
students was punched, pushed to the ground and kicked at about
10.20 pm (local time) in central Melbourne, police said.
"There are some idiots out there who perpetrated terrible
attacks on some Indian students," Immigration Minister Chris
Evans said condemning the latest attacks.
The 20-year-old Indian suffered a wound on his left ear
from what appeared to be an edged weapon, police said, adding
the 22-year-old student was also punched to the ground and
suffered minor abrasions to the forearm.
While one of the victims was taken to the St Vincents
Hospital with lacerations to the ear, the other did not
require hospital treatment, an AAP report said.
"Eight people were arrested this morning, with another
man picked up later in the day. Of the nine arrested, five
youths have been charged with affray, intentionally causing
injury and summary assault offences," a Victorian police
statement said. (MORE) PTI NC
DDC


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