Stop attacks, says India; 25-yr-old latest victim in Australia

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, May 29 (PTI) Talking tough, India Friday said
the spate of assaults targeting its students in Australia have
to "stop now" and asserted that racism was a factor in some of
the incidents, shortly after another youth from the community
faced a petrol bomb attack that left him badly burnt.

"The fact of the matter is that whatever the motive
behind the attacks, they seem to be Indian students... there
is a racist element in some of the attacks but many of the
attacks are opportunistic," Indian High Commissioner Sujata
Singh told reporters.

Singh, who met premier of Victoria John Brumby and top
police and educational officials of the province, said the
authorities have assured their full support, with the police
saying that they will increase patrolling near the trouble
spots frequented by snatching gangs.

"It is my earnest hope that these attacks stop now. And
that is precisely what we are all trying to work towards,"
Singh said. She said the government is monitoring the
situation and the response to the incidents.

Her remarks soon after another Indian student,
25-year-old Rajesh Kumar, suffered 30 per cent burns after a
suspected petrol bomb was hurled at him in his home in Sydney.

Shravan Kumar, a student from southern Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh, was fighting for life in a hospital here after
being stabbed by a screwdriver by a group of teens in a
weekend attack that also left three of his friends injured.

Another student Baljinder Singh, stabbed by two attackers
with a screwdriver early this week, has been discharged from
hospital Friday. Singh was attacked near the Carnegie train
station by two armed men, who demanded money from him. As he
was searching through his bag to hand over his wallet, he was
stabbed by the attackers who then laughed and fled.

Observing that the Indian students are seen as "soft
targets," the High Commissioner said it has been made clear to
the Australian government and police that they will have to
come up with a solution to prevent such attacks.

Meanwhile, a top police official here denied that the
attacks on Indian students are racially motivated.

There was a perception that Indian people were "weak
prey" for criminals, Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe
was quoted as saying by media here.

"I don't think they are (racist crimes) in general ...
more opportunistic activity. We think they (Indians) are
vulnerable, we don't think it's racial, we think they are a
weak target."

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was horrified at the
attacks but defended the police response.

"Any act of violence, any decent human being just
responds with horror at the sorts of attack which have
occurred recently...but the key thing is to make sure our law
enforcement authorities are doing the best they can. I am
confident they are," he was quoted as saying by the AFP. PTI
NC
RKM
NNNN




The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.