Attacks on Indian Students

As reported by the Indian Missions abroad, there have been instances of attacks on persons of Indian origin including students in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America over the past few years. A total of 50 such incidents of attack in 2009, 103 incidents in 2010 and 15 such incidents in 2011 were reported from Australia. Three incidents of attack on Indian students from the United Kingdom and four such incidents in the United States of America have also been reported during 2010-12. No incident of attack particularly aimed at Indian students has been reported from any other country.

The issue of attacks on Indian students in Australia, UK and USA has been taken up at the highest level by the Government, including at the Ministerial level as well as through the respective Indian Missions and our Consulates in Australia, UK and USA. Specifically in the case of Australia, the Indian High Commission and the Consulates in Australia remain in regular touch with the Australian authorities both at the federal and the state level, as well as with the Indian community, to offer support and assistance and follow-up on all reported cases of attacks. ‘Open Fridays’ were also observed whereby Indian students in Australia could walk into the offices of the High Commission and the Consulates without any prior appointment to discuss their problems and issues. Several measures have been put in place by the Australian Government to improve the safety and security of Indian students, at the Federal and State level. These include deployment of additional forces, amendments in sentencing laws and empowering police forces to combat violence and anti-social behaviour.