Hyderabad, February 09: While in Australia, whenever Abhinav ventured out of his house in Melbourne along with his group of Indian friends, he always ensured that the police helpline number was saved on his mobile phone. “You never know, we might just come under attack,’’ he said adding in the same breath that the Australian police, in such cases, was of not much help.
A student of Victoria University, Abhinav returned to the city leaving Australia for good midway through his studies due to a spurt in the attacks on the Indians there.
“The Australian police is rather strange. Even if they arrive during such attacks, they would simply pacify both the groups without actually registering a case,’’ Abhinav told Expresso. Abhinav, 25, who was pursuing his masters in micro electronics was once mugged there.
Recalling an experience, Abhinav said once while his friend was talking over the phone in a railway station, a 15-year-old boy snatched his phone and ran away. “My friend chased, caught hold of him and called the police but they did not arrest him saying he was under-aged.’’ Drunk Australians resorting to attacks in an inebriated state is quite common. “There are many nightclubs and other places open till late night, but the Indians are scared to venture out as they are easy prey for a group of Australians on a high,’’ he said. The attacks had increased after the global recession. “There also seems to be growing hatred for Indians as the Aussies feel that we corner lower-level jobs for a very paltry sum,” he said.
Racial attacks had always been there but only got highlighted recently, he said citing his house owner who used to look down upon Indians.
“He would often tell us to get out of his country.’’ Abhinav is glad that he is back home safely and plans to start his own business.
---Agencies
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