New Delhi: Expressing outrage at the attack on its students in Melbourne, India on Wednesday asked Australia to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna reminded Australia about its responsibility to ensure the well-being and security of Indian students studying in that country.
"I have been appalled at the attack on our students in Melbourne," Krishna said in a statement here while commenting on the assault on four Indian students, one of whom is battling for life in a hospital there.
"We will impress upon the Australian authorities that such attacks should not be permitted," he said.
The minister said Indian Consulate General in Melbourne is in touch with the affected students and the state police.
Indian High Commissioner in Canberra Sujata Singh has rushed to Melbourne to take stock of the situation and to ensure that the student who has been seriously injured receives the best possible treatment and that the authorities ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
Indian student in coma
Among the injured was a 23-year-old Indian student who is in a coma at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after being attacked by an Australian youth who gatecrashed into a get-together of Indian students.
The 23-year-old was reportedly attacked with sharp objects by one of two Australians who barged into his apartment when Shravan and his three Indian friends were relaxing over the weekend.
"Indian students are in fear after these attacks... or something about the attack itself," said Gautam Gupta, founder of Federation of Indian Students Association (FISA).
Three days after the incident, Shravan's family in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh, is still struggling to complete necessary formalities so they can travel to be with the 23-year-old who left home in November 2007 to pursue a 2-year diploma in automobile electricals. His uncle had paid for his education as it was beyond the means of his farmer father.
"We thought Australia was safe," said Srinivasu Theerthala, uncle of Shravan.
The local police have taken the assaulters into custody and said they were under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
"We are taking it up and planning to issue advisory to students to ensure their safety,'' said Anita Nair, Consul General of India in Melbourne.
Just on May 9, another Indian, Saurabh was assaulted on a train in Melbourne. The police have said there were 60 assaults on South Asians in the past 6 months. (With inputs from Uma Sudhir)