Two Indian students were punched, pushed to the ground and kicked by a mob here in the eighth such incident in Australia in a fortnight leading to the arrest of nine persons, five of whom were booked for assault.
The two victims, aged 20 and 22, told the police they were approached and
attacked by people from a large group on Swanston Street in Melbourne Central last night.
The attackers, described as being of Asian appearance, had allegedly made comments to the duo before one of the students was punched, pushed to the ground and kicked at about 10.20 pm (local time) in central Melbourne, police said. "There are some idiots out there who perpetrated terrible attacks on some Indian students," Immigration Minister Chris Evans said condemning the latest attacks.
The 20-year-old Indian suffered a wound on his left ear from what appeared to be an edged weapon, police said, adding the 22-year-old student was also punched to the ground and suffered minor abrasions to the forearm.
While one of the victims was taken to the St Vincents Hospital with lacerations to the ear, the other did not require hospital treatment, an AAP report said.
"Eight people were arrested this morning, with another man picked up later in the day. Of the nine arrested, five youths have been charged with affray, intentionally causing injury and summary assault offences," a Victorian police statement said.