Australia briefs India on action taken over attacks

With the continuing attacks on Indians in Australia threatening to affect bilateral ties,Canberra has taken the first step to cool down tempers.

With the continuing attacks on Indians in Australia threatening to affect bilateral ties,Canberra has taken the first step to cool down tempers. It is learnt that Australia has officially briefed New Delhi about the actions both arrests and prosecutions it has taken in several cases of attacks against Indians in the past two years.

In an official communication perhaps the first after the killing of young Indian expatriate Nitin Garg in Melbourne on Sunday Canberra has also conveyed that there is no evidence as of now to suggest that the murder had racial overtones. Nevertheless,it said it was determined to take firm action in the case.

As if on cue,New Delhi reciprocated in equal measure with the Ministry of External Affairs favouring a need for calm and balance to let the concerned authorities in Australia take remedial measures.

It is learnt that Rob Hulls,the Acting Premier of Victoria,in a letter to Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi,has given details about the action taken by the police there in as many as 18 cases of attacks on Indian citizens since March 2008 till the end of last year.

While in two of these 18 cases,there are no reported suspicious circumstances almost all of the other cases have resulted in arrests or prosecutions. There have been 33 arrests in total, he wrote in the letter.

Meanwhile,Vayalar Ravi said the Government would have to see what Canberra actually does to improve the security situation.