By our community reporter
Melbourne: Five men have been charged following an attack on two Indian students in central Melbourne.Police arrested nine men on Tuesday as they hunted for the attackers but later released four of them pending further investigations. The five men held have been charged with affray, intentionally causing injury and summary assault offences in the assault that occurred outside Melbourne Central at 10.20pm (AEDT) on Monday, reports smh.com.au.
Earlier,Two Indians aged, 18 and 22 who were attacked by a group of 10 in Melbourne Central on the eve of India’s Republic and Australia Day were discharged from the St. Vincent hospital yesterday night and today. The two were taken to hospital after being attacked by the group and the 18 year old was pushed to the ground and kicked. He was hurt in the ear by a sharp edged object. The 22-year-old was also punched to the ground and suffered minor abrasions to the forearm.
A report says the group of ‘Asian appearance’ used racist comments before the attack and fled from the scene. Later cops arrested eight people in this connection and four of them were freed. According to Senior Constable Wayne Wilson the victims did not wish to be identified.
Talking to South Asia Times, Gautam Gupta of the Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) sad, “It does not matter what the appearance of the attackers was and the attack last night proves that our streets are still unsafe”
Gupta further said: “Any attack on Indian students or workers is an attack on Indian battlers”.
