A helpline to assist Indian students who are victims of crime will begin operating from Friday amid mounting alarm over violent racist attacks in Melbourne's western suburbs.
The strategy comes as statistics obtained by the State Opposition reveal violent crime has risen by up to 100 per cent in some areas in the west over the past eight years.
And the growing number of attacks on Indian students have made headlines in India, with the Hindustan Times reporting students were "scared" and the Economic Times of India warning the Australian Government's $3.5 million campaign to attract Indian students to combat the recession could remain a "non-starter" if the issue of racial attacks was not addressed.
The helpline, to be staffed by trained volunteers fluent in English and Hindi, will provide guidance on what to do and where to go in a crisis. It is an initiative of a police reference group, formed with members of the Indian community.
But Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said that without a zero-tolerance approach to racial assaults and more police, there was little hope of stamping out the violence.
Statistics obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information laws show violent crimes against persons in Melton increased by 101 per cent from 2000-2001 to 2007-2008. There was an increase of 51 per cent over the same period in Brimbank, 43.5 per cent in Wyndham and 15.2 per cent in Hobsons Bay, while Maribyrnong bucked the trend with a decrease of 11.4 per cent.
The Federation of Indian Students of Australia said police had failed to curb racist attacks against Indians and it did not see many positive developments from the reference group.
Other strategies discussed by the group include educating Indian students to keep a low profile by not displaying signs of wealth, such as iPods or laptops, and not talking loudly in their native tongue when travelling on trains late at night. Police say these suggestions came from Indian members.
Federation of Indian Students of Australia president Amit Menghani said keeping a low profile would do nothing to prevent Indian students like Mr Sharma from being bashed by racist gangs.
Assistant Police Commissioner of Region Two West, Sandra Nicholson, denied police were failing to act. She said police last year established the Embona anti-robbery taskforce specifically to address attacks on Indian students.
"They have been extremely successful — last week alone they made seven arrests for robberies," she said.
Assistant Commissioner Nicholson said the increase in violent crime over the past eight years had to be considered in light of population growth in the west, with Melton and Wyndham among the highest growth areas in the state.
The helpline (1800 342 800) will be staffed from 10am to 5pm, and 7pm to 11pm, Monday to Friday.
A trail of racist attacks
May, 2009: Indian student Sourabh Sharma (right) bashed and robbed by racist gang on train to Werribee.
December, 2008: Sukhraj Singh bashed in an Indian grocery in Sunshine, which left him in a coma for weeks.
September 2008: Former Australian Medical Association president Mukesh Haikerwal assaulted in Williamstown.
April 2008: Student and taxi driver Jalvinder Singh stabbed by a passenger.
March, 2008: Student Kanan Kharbanda partially blinded in gang attack at Sunshine railway station.
January 2008: Victoria University academic Dr Zhongjun Cao bashed to death in Footscray after a gang of youths, who thought he was Indian, went "curry bashing".
jai hind
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