Due to the recent ongoing events of brutal attack against the Indian students in Australia, Indian students were asked to take extra caution by the government. Some things which they can do are
- Look out for each other
- Dont travel too late
- Stay in touch with all your friends so that they know your whereabouts
Thousands of demonstrators protesting violence against Indian students filled streets in Australia's second largest city Sunday, as the foreign minister said the government was doing everything it could to solve the crime problem.
The demonstration by predominantly ethnic Indian men came after the Indian and Australian governments held top-level discussions about the safety of more than 90,000 Indians studying in Australian universities.
Five Indian students were stabbed and beaten in two unrelated incidents in Melbourne in the past week. One victim, Sravan Kumar, 25, remains in critical condition in a Melbourne hospital after being stabbed with a screwdriver at a party.
Another student was beaten and robbed on a train earlier this month.
Police argue that Indian students often fall victim to assault in Melbourne because they travel alone late at night to work long hours at part-time jobs and are known to carry valuable items such as laptop computers. They urged students to take precautions.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government said attacks on Indians studying in Australia are “disturbing” and it is trying to tackle the problem after the government in New Delhi raised concerns.
“It is something we do seriously have to address,” Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters in Canberra today. “It could be damaging. There’s no point sending your loved ones here to stay if they come under threat.”
The Federation of Indian Students of Australia held a rally in the city of Melbourne yesterday to protest violent attacks which it says are increasing. A student was left in a coma after he was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver last month.
There have been as many as 70 attacks on Indian students in 12 months, the Age newspaper reported at the weekend. More than 75,000 Indians are enrolled as full fee-paying students in Australia, according to Australian government figures. Eighteen percent of all foreign students in Australia are Indian, second only to Chinese.
