The Hindu : Front Page : Student from Delhi attacked in Melbourne

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Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009
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Student from Delhi attacked in Melbourne

Melbourne: A 20-year old Delhi boy became the 14th victim of assault in Australia in less than a month, when he was punched and abused here, leaving him with a fractured finger and a bloody nose.

A Deakin University student, Sunny Bajaj was attacked by two men in their 20s, in Melbourne’s eastern suburb as he was about to get into his car around 8.50 p.m on Friday.

“They came up to me and asked me for money, I told them I had none and then they attacked me,” Bajaj said.

He said he was first racially abused and then the attackers, one white and the other apparently of African descent, slammed his car door and punched him in the head and stomach.

Misses exam

Bajaj had to miss an accounts examination, because of the broken finger. However, he said university authorities rescheduled his examination.

“I won’t call it a racial attack as they first asked me money and when I told them that I didn’t have it they started bashing me,” he told PTI, adding the attackers were apparently drug addicts.

Bajaj, however, said many of his friends had been racially taunted, ever since the attacks started receiving media attention.

“Few of my friends also experienced racist taunts while they were walking. Few white men in their car abused them and drove away,” he said.

“My parents are really worried and are asking me to come back. I don’t want to go back but finish my studies,” he said.

Indians and Chinese form a major chunk of foreigners studying in Australia.

Shravan clinically stable

Meanwhile, Shravan Kumar, the 25-year-old student, whose comatose pictures have sent shock waves across the Indian diaspora, is being moved to a rehabilitation centre to help him recuperate from the brutal attack in Australia last month.

Kumar, who is the first of the victims of alleged racist attacks Down Under in the last one month, has been declared clinically stable by doctors.

“The crime compensation court has agreed to pay out rehabilitation compensation to him,” a source close to Kumar told PTI.

Kumar, who battled for life for several days, is now able to walk and respond.

Shravan’s visiting uncle Thirthala Srinivas earlier said Shravan’s condition was stable, but there was little chance of his recovering completely.

“Even though he has survived, the attack will leave Shravan slightly disabled on audiovisual aspect,” he said. — PTI

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