AUS-LD INDIA 2 LAST

Terming the incident as "unfortunate", External Affairs
Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the Indian High
Commissioner in Canberra and Consul General in Melbourne are
following up the matter "vigorously with the Australian
authorities".

He said Indian authorities were informed that Jaspreet
Singh had suffered burn injuries in an attack by unidentified
assailants in Melbourne early this morning. "No further
details regarding the individual or incident are available at
present," he said.
Prakash said the condition of the victim was not critical
but he has been hospitalised and is receiving treatment.
"Under the circumstances, the media is advised to
exercise utmost restraint in reporting on these sensitive
issues as it could aggravate the situation and could have a
bearing on our bilateral relations with Australia," the
spokesman said.
Separately, India's Minister of State for External
Affairs Preneet Kaur told reporters that "Australia is a
sovereign nation. We have taken up the matter at the highest
levels. I think the country certainly needs to beef up its law
and order." PTI SKU
MYR


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.