Fewer attacks in Australia

Violence against Indian students in Australia has come down in recent months following the Indian government’s “active intervention”.

Violence against Indian students in Australia has come down in recent months following the Indian government’s “active intervention”.

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External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that a number of factors had led to the violence, and some of the incidents were racial.

“The incidents relating to Indian students and nationals in Australia have involved one or more of the following elements: robbery, assault, violence fuelled by alcohol/drugs, juvenile crime and racial abuse,” he said.

Most of the attackers, he said, were teenagers or in their early 20s of mixed ethnicity. “Some of the attacks have had racial elements.”

Financial constraints facing Indian students, too, had added to the problem. They were living in poor neighbourhoods, working late and using public transport late in the night making them vulnerable to street crime, which was on the rise in Melbourne, he said.

The federal as well as provincial governments in Australia “have taken action” to check the violence.

The government would continue to monitor the situation and work closely with the Australian authorities for improving the safety and security of Indian students in Australia, he said.