Sunday 14 June 2009

Sikh Student assaulted in OZ

Venkatesan Vembu / DNA
Friday, June 12, 2009 11:12 IST

Melbourne: Race-based violence against Indian students in Australia spread to Adelaide, when a 22-year-old Sikh student was taunted and beaten at a mall on Thursday. "He was out with friends at Rundle Mall when a Caucasian teenager picked on him and taunted him about his turban," Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) founder Gautam Gupta told DNA.

The student suffered face injuries and had a tooth dislodged. Vikram Madan, president, Indian Australian Association of South Australia, said the student suffered a minor fracture to his jaw and a broken rib.

The 17-year-old Caucasian was arrested and charged with assault. South Australian premier Mike Rann called the incident a "disgrace". "It would be madness for anyone to think that racial violence is acceptable in our community," Rann said. He assured international students they were welcome to state educational institutions.

Federal education minister Julia Gillard on Friday joined state-level ministers in condemning the "violent incidents and problems that international students have experienced in Australia in recent times".

The government announced the establishment of an international student taskforce to develop strategies to support the welfare of international students.

Indian community representatives in Adelaide met on Friday evening to discuss the recent attacks on Indian students. They urged Indian students not to retaliate, as happened earlier this week in Sydney.

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