ID :
65003
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 10:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/65003
The shortlink copeid
Some attacks on Indians were racially motivated: police
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jun 9 (PTI) Australia Tuesday admitted for
the first time that some of the recent attacks on Indians in
the country were "racially motivated", even as the authorities
asked protesting community members not to take law in their
own hands and "let the police do their jobs."
Rattled by the first act of retaliation by the Indian
community here following racial attacks on them, a top police
official here asked Indian students to disband their patrol
groups and assured that steps will be taken to ensure their
safety.
Victorian Police Commissioner Simon Overland, who had
been denying any racial angle to attacks against Indians, said
some of the recent attacks were "racist".
"We also feel that the police force should be
multicultural and people from different communities including
Indian should join the police," he told foreign journalists.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said
the federal government had been working with Victoria and
other states to ensure that Indian students feel safe in
Australia.
"As a national government we're concerned about any
manifestations of violence in any part of the community,"
Gillard was quoted as saying by the local media.
Her comments came in the wake of hundreds of Indian
students protesting against the continuing attacks on the
community members, especially students.
Police said they had to call the dog squad to control
the protesters who were wielding sticks and baseball bats.
The students gathered at the main street of Harris
Park to protest against the recent racial violence.
The demonstration began last night after a 20-year-
old Indian student was allegedly assaulted by a group of men
of Middle Eastern appearance, police said.
Besides, Indians have also formed groups to protect
students from racial attacks at St Albans and Thomastown
railway stations in Melbourne's west after a spate of
assaults on the community members in the area.
Indians conducting their own security patrols should
"leave and let police do their jobs", a police official said.
She said police had already boosted patrols on the
troubled train line, the railway stations and at a St Albans
shopping centre to prevent further attacks.
"We have been talking to them about their concerns and
because of that have increased patrols in the area," she said.
The students have complied to police request to move
but then returned the following night or gone to other
locations, the spokeswoman said.
Yesterday, a 20-year-old man was stabbed in a western
suburb of Melbourne after he had allegedly racially abused a
group of Indian students here in possibly the first act of
retaliation.
The Vice President said the government "would liaise
with the international student community and India to make
sure that students get the right information about living in
Australia and how to make them feel safe." PTI NC
AM
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Melbourne, Jun 9 (PTI) Australia Tuesday admitted for
the first time that some of the recent attacks on Indians in
the country were "racially motivated", even as the authorities
asked protesting community members not to take law in their
own hands and "let the police do their jobs."
Rattled by the first act of retaliation by the Indian
community here following racial attacks on them, a top police
official here asked Indian students to disband their patrol
groups and assured that steps will be taken to ensure their
safety.
Victorian Police Commissioner Simon Overland, who had
been denying any racial angle to attacks against Indians, said
some of the recent attacks were "racist".
"We also feel that the police force should be
multicultural and people from different communities including
Indian should join the police," he told foreign journalists.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said
the federal government had been working with Victoria and
other states to ensure that Indian students feel safe in
Australia.
"As a national government we're concerned about any
manifestations of violence in any part of the community,"
Gillard was quoted as saying by the local media.
Her comments came in the wake of hundreds of Indian
students protesting against the continuing attacks on the
community members, especially students.
Police said they had to call the dog squad to control
the protesters who were wielding sticks and baseball bats.
The students gathered at the main street of Harris
Park to protest against the recent racial violence.
The demonstration began last night after a 20-year-
old Indian student was allegedly assaulted by a group of men
of Middle Eastern appearance, police said.
Besides, Indians have also formed groups to protect
students from racial attacks at St Albans and Thomastown
railway stations in Melbourne's west after a spate of
assaults on the community members in the area.
Indians conducting their own security patrols should
"leave and let police do their jobs", a police official said.
She said police had already boosted patrols on the
troubled train line, the railway stations and at a St Albans
shopping centre to prevent further attacks.
"We have been talking to them about their concerns and
because of that have increased patrols in the area," she said.
The students have complied to police request to move
but then returned the following night or gone to other
locations, the spokeswoman said.
Yesterday, a 20-year-old man was stabbed in a western
suburb of Melbourne after he had allegedly racially abused a
group of Indian students here in possibly the first act of
retaliation.
The Vice President said the government "would liaise
with the international student community and India to make
sure that students get the right information about living in
Australia and how to make them feel safe." PTI NC
AM
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.
