Sikh student becomes 20th Indian victim in Oz

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Jun 30 (PTI) In yet another racial attack on
Indian students in Australia, a 22-year-old Sikh youth was
assaulted by a group of six teenagers, who tried to remove his
turban and cut the hair.

Resham Singh, a student of hospitality course who came
from Punjab six months ago, became the 20th victim within a
month when he was attacked Monday at Dandenong Station here.

Singh, who could not speak English properly, explained in
Punjabi that "They first abused me and left and then again
came back with more people and also got a pair of scissors
along with them. They tried to remove my turban and cut my
hair."

"My friends tried to save me," he said, adding "education
agent back in India never gave me any information of how hard
life will be here."

The attackers were later arrested by the police.

Victoria police confirmed the arrest of the two persons
but withheld the identity of the victim.

"The youths from Dandenong, aged 13 and 15 years, were
charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly
causing serious injury and assault in company," a police
spokesperson said.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has declared "zero
tolerance" against attacks on students including Indians.
Victorian police has also announced an initiative to mount
stronger patrolling around train stations to curb any such
crime.

"I came to know from my college friends about the job
market and other information like safety and security issues
when I reached here," Singh commented.

He said though the episode has shaken him he will
continue his course and eventually get permanent residency.

Singh pointed out that he took a job of trolley pushing
through his friend as he was not getting any job due to his
appearance.

"No one was ready to hire me as I have beard and turban,"
he claimed.

Interestingly, most of the students who have been
attacked are either a student of cookery, hospitality or
community services courses studying in cut price private
college.

These students who live far from family networks of home
try to meet costs of expensive living as compared to Indian
standards by working late nights and doing odd jobs like
cleaning, sweeping, driving cabs or at petrol stations. PTI