India Asks Australia to Accelerate Probe into Attacks on Indians

India has asked Australia to accelerate probe into the cases of attacks on Indians, warning that if the issue is not redressed, it could cast a shadow on bilateral ties.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna yesterday telephonically spoke to his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith asking for expediting the investigation.

He said that he had expressed concerns over the growing number of incidents of attacks on Indian students, particularly in last 10 days.

“I spoke to the foreign minister of Australia. I have drawn his attention to the increasing assault, some of them fatal, on Indian students. And I have requested him to expedite the investigation so that the culprits can be brought to justice,” the minister said.

He asked for ‘immediate corrective measures’ and pointed out that the incidents were continuing despite assurances from Australian government.

There is growing concern over all the crimes being labelled as ‘opportunistic urban crime’. Krishna also asked his counterpart to ensure that the concerned police authorities deal with ongoing investigations with ‘sensitivity and a sense of urgency’.

According to Ministry of External Affairs, Smith gave Krishna assurance about Australia’s seriousness in cracking the cases and said that he was conscious of the need for an early breakthrough in the ongoing investigations.

The Australian police is yet to find the culprits behind the fatal stabbing of Indian student Nitin Garg on January 2. Similarly, investigations are still on in the case related to Jaspreet Singh and the murder of Ranjodh Singh, whose body was found on December 29.

Earlier, acting foreign minister Simon Crean had said that it was too early to conclude that the recent attacks on Indians were racially motivated.