18 detained protesters freed by Australian police

Melbourne, Jun 2 (PTI) All 18 protesters, detained for
"breaching peace" by organising a massive rally against
attacks on Indian students here, were released by Australian
police who charged one of them for causing damage to property.

The 18, most of them Indian students studying here, were
detained in the early hours Monday after police used force
to break their protests, that had blocked one of the busiest
streets in Melbourne.

They were however released later in the day. Their
identities were still not known.

"But one protester has been charged with a
damage-to-property offence," the Sydney Morning Herald said.

Australian police faced accusations of excessive force
to break up a peaceful sit-in by hundreds of Indian students
protesting a spate of attacks on their community.

The protests were called off after protesters accused
police of high-handedness and "ramrodding" them to break up
their sit-in.

Victoria police commissioner Simon Overland however said
the action was justified as protesters had ignored a final
order to leave the busy street. "There were blows, as I said,
because arms had been linked, and there was a lot of
resistance going on," he said agreeing some force was used.
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