In the backdrop of racial attacks against Indians, three students of the community were bashed and robbed when they were returning home at night.

The latest incident took place on Thursday night at around 10.30 pm (local time) when the victims were on their way home from Sunshine station along Anderson road, The Age reported.

Three to four persons approached the victims from behind near Derby Road Reserve demanding their wallets and cellphones, the police said in the report.

One of the victims, a 26-year-old student from Sunshine, handed over his wallets and mobile phone and escaped from the spot, the report said.

While the other two students, aged 24 and 27, were thrashed by the offenders who also stole their cellphones.

The 24-year-old man received head injuries in the attack and the 27-year-old man suffered soreness to his upper body, the report said.