Another Indian student attacked in Australia

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Jun 25 (PTI) In yet another attack on Indian
students in Australia, a youth from the community was
assaulted and robbed in Gold Coast, taking to 17 the number of
such incidents within a month.

The attack which occurred last week came to light
Thursday when the victim identified as Sachin sent an e-mail
to the Federation of Indian Students in Australia (FISA).

"I am a student of Southern Cross university TweedHeads
Gold Coast. I have been attacked and robbed ... near
Coolangatta police station," he said in the e-mail.

"They took my money, ATM card, phone, gold chain. And I
got five stitches on my face," he said, adding a case has
already been filed, but that he was "not satisfied" with the
police action.

The student sought FISA's advice on what he should do
next despite the Australian authorities vowing to provide
maximum security to foreigners pursuing education here.

FISA founder Gautam Gupta said that they had been
receiving five to seven such e-mails everyday wherein victims
were seeking help.

"We have been receiving ... such e-mails everyday stating
they have been robbed, bashed, verbally abused or thrown out
of the house," Gupta said.

Gupta said there was an urgent need for the Indian High
Commission to build trust among students to directly report
such incidents.

He said FISA was working with the High Commission in this
regard.

Facing flak for the recent spate of attacks on Indian
youths, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday pledged
to provide "maximum" security to foreign students.

"Any assault against any person or any visitor to
Australia or any international student is one assault too
many," Rudd told a visiting Indian media delegation here
Wednesday. PTI NC
PMR
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