Melbourne, January 06: The government has cautioned Indian students in Australia to take certain “basic precautions” and be alert while moving around to maintain their own safety. New Delhi has also said there has been an “increase in violence” on streets in Melbourne “without any discernible pattern or rationale” behind it.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement on Tuesday, said, “The MEA cautions Indian students who are planning to study in Australia that there have been several incidents of robbery and assault on Indians in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, which has seen an increase in violence on its streets in recent years, with the offenders suspected to be mainly young people in their teens and early 20s.”
The ministry cited the most recent incident of this kind, which has been the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old Indian in Melbourne on January 2 while he was walking to his workplace.
“These incidents are continuing to occur despite efforts by the local police to step up anti-crime measures, and are occurring all over Melbourne without any discernible pattern or rationale behind them. Increasingly also, the acts of violence are often accompanied by verbal abuse, fuelled by alcohol and drugs.”
“While the majority of Indian students studying in Australia, especially those enrolled in universities and reputable institutions, have a positive experience of living and studying in Australia, the number of such incidents of assault as well as of robbery has been on the rise in recent months, which has affected not only Indian students but also members of the larger Indian community in Australia,” it said.
“Keeping these factors in view, the Government of India advises Indian students studying in Australia as well as those planning to study there, that they should take certain basic precautions in being alert to their own security while moving around,” the statement said.
The precautions that the statement advises include “not travelling alone late at night and even if one is travelling alone, to keep to well-lit, populated areas as far as possible”.
“Always carry some identification with you as well as details of who should be contacted in an emergency. If in danger, dial 000 to get police help,” the statement said, adding that “in case you have a complaint, get in touch with officer responsible for students welfare in the High Commission or the Consulate nearest you”.
—-Agencies