Australian Foreign minister reacts to attack on Indian students

Reacting to the attack on Indian students in Australia, which took place on Wednesday (May 27), Australian Foreign Minister for foreign affairs, Stephen Smith in a statement to the media on Thursday said, "As Foreign Minister, I'm appalled by these attacks and I condemn them absolutely. Australia takes very seriously its reputation as a safe destination for Indian students. Indian students have faced problems in one particular location in Melbourne. Action is being taken. The police are giving particular focus to this issue. They have launched a police operation specifically to investigate allegations of attacks on students. And a hotline, staffed by volunteers who are fluent in English and Hindi, has been established to provide support, information and advice to Indian students."

The reactions from the Australian government came after Indian Foreign minister S M Krishna asked Australia to ensure that such incidents do not recur. Foreign minister S M Krishna reminded Australia about its responsibility to ensure the well-being and security of Indian students studying in that country. "I am appalled at the attack on our students in Melbourne," Krishna said in a statement in New Delhi while commenting on the assault on four Indian students, one of whom is battling for life in a hospital there.

A group of teenagers attacked four Indian students while they were partying here over the weekend, leaving Shravan Kumar in a serious condition. It is said the attackers abused them and said they should go back to India.

They were hit with a screwdriver by the attackers who apparently were in drunken state. While three were discharged after medical treatment, Kumar is still fighting for his life.