Fresh attack in Melbourne worries India

Even as the Indian Government has expressed serious concern over the unabated attacks in Australia, particularly Melbourne, in which Indian students have been targeted, a fresh case in which 29-year-old Jaspreet Singh had suffered burn injuries in an attack by unidentified assailants in Melbourne on Jan 9, has underlined the seriousness of the problem.

At the same time, the government has asked the media to exercise restraint in reporting as it could have a bearing on bilateral ties.

"The Indian High Commissioner in Canberra and Consul General in Melbourne are following up this matter vigorously with the Australian authorities," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in New Delhi. The latest attack came a week after the murder of 21-year-old Indian graduate Nitin Garg in a Yarraville park while he was on his way to his part-time job in a restaurant. The body of another Indian youth, 25-year-old Ranjodh Singh, was found beside Wilga Road in Willbriggie in the neighbouring state of New South Wales on December 29.

Dismissing Australian suggestions that the Indian reaction on the spate of recent attacks was “hysterical”, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said India expects its citizens, whether they are students or otherwise, to be safe in Australia.

Jaspreet Singh, who was attacked in Essendon area of northwest Melbourne shortly before 2.00 am local time suffered 20 per cent burns including on his arms, chest and face, was admitted to 'The Alfred' hospital. Police said that as he was getting out of the car, four men attacked him, pushing him back against the vehicle and pouring some fluid on him. One of the men then ignited the fluid with a lighter before all the attackers fled.

As in previous cases of such attacks, detectives have denied any racial angle to the attack. Meanwhile, Gautam Gupta, President of Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA), said such attacks were unacceptable and the federal Government must act against them. Australian Deputy Premier Julia Gillard condemned the attack on Singh.

There are clear signs that there has been a huge decline by 46 per cent of Indians applying for student visas in Australia last year, country's immigration department has said. The total number of student visa applications around the world also dropped by over 20 per cent.

However, Department's spokesman Sandy Logan claimed racism and violence issue against foreign students were not mainly to be blamed for the slide in visa applications. It was also due to stricter and tougher scrutiny of applications and the immigration department has been rejecting a higher number of applications from India.

- Asian Tribune -