Attacks may harm ties, Krishna tells Australian minister

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has conveyed concerns about the attacks on Indian students continuing unabated despite high-level assurances to his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith. HT Correspondentreports.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has conveyed to Australia concerns about the attacks on Indian students continuing unabated despite high-level assurances.

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Krishna spoke to his counterpart Stephen Smith in London, where both the ministers were to take part in a conference on Afghanistan.

Sources said Krishna had told Smith that the incidents of violence against Indians had resulted in public resentment and the attacks, if left un-addressed, could cast a shadow on the otherwise excellent bilateral relations.

Smith briefed Krishna about the steps Australians were taking to address the issue. Australian diplomatic sources in Delhi, however, said that no dossiers were handed over to Krishna by Smith.

The Australia government had handed over to India a police dossier of high-profile attacks on Indians over the past year, PTI adds.

It reveals that nearly half of the attackers were juveniles.

Prepared by Victoria Police, the dossier was handed over recently after Smith telephoned Krishna on January 11 to express his condolences over the murder of Indian student Nitin Garg in Yarraville.