Hysteria may spawn more violence against Indians, says Aussie cop
January 21st, 2010 - 4:09 pm ICT by IANSMelbourne, Jan 21 (IANS) The “hysterical commentary” on the attacks on Indian students can “spawn more violence as attitudes polarise and harden”, a top Australian police official warned Thursday.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said that the level of violence directed at Indians was unacceptable.
“(But) I fear that the hysterical commentary will only spawn more violence as attitudes polarise and harden, leading to more hardcore racist intentions and violence,” Overland said in Geelong city.
“We need to be very careful as this is a path to be avoided at all costs,” the Herald Sun quoted Overland as saying.
A spate of attacks on Indians studying and working in Australia has caused an outcry in India, putting strains on bilateral relations.
Overland said there was no doubt that some of the recent robberies and other acts of violence directed at Indian students were racist.
“Of course we have racism in this country - we are like any country. But it is a mistake to oversimplify these crimes and point to a racial motivation in all or a majority of them.”
He said many victims had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Overland had said Wednesday that Indians were over-represented in robbery statistics and there was a racist element to some attacks.
“There is no question, regardless of the motives, Indian students have to a degree been targeted in robberies and that is not okay,” The Australian had quoted him as saying.
New Delhi warned Wednesday that people-to-people ties with Australia may be hit if the violence against Indians did not halt.
Two of the Indians attacked in December and January have died.
- Another Indian stabbing reported; Australian PM admits violent crime up (Second Lead) - Jan 21, 2010
- Put attacks in context, says Rudd as another Indian stabbed (Lead) - Jan 21, 2010
- India says ties with Australia may suffer over attacks (Roundup) - Jan 20, 2010
- We knew about racial attacks on Indians: Australian police official - Jan 20, 2010
- Victoria Police knew about growing attacks against Indians two years ago - Jan 20, 2010
- Ravi calls Victoria police chief 'petty officer' for criticising India - Jan 12, 2010
- Victorian police' 'racist emails' "unhelpful" for country's image, warns Oz diplomat - Oct 11, 2010
- Oz PM says Indian attacks should be kept in context - Jan 21, 2010
- Racism exists in Victoria, admits Oz top cop - Feb 06, 2010
- Australian cop admits of some attacks on Indians being racial - Jun 09, 2009
- Australia Issues Report on Crimes Against Foreign Students - Aug 12, 2011
- Assaults on Indian students in Australia not racial - Aug 11, 2011
- Indian taxi driver in Australia stabbed in the lung - Jan 21, 2010
- Indian envoy called to discuss Australia attacks - Feb 03, 2010
- Attacks on Indians in Victoria: Police says will look at larger issue - Feb 04, 2010
Tags: acts of violence, australian police, bilateral relations, chief commissioner, herald sun, hysteria, indian students, jan 21, no doubt, outcry, polarise, police chief, police official, racial motivation, robberies, robbery statistics, spate, victoria police, working in australia, wrong place at the wrong time
