Racist scandal in Oz: Cops joke about Indian's electrocution

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Oct 9 (PTI) In a shocking incident, top
Australian police officers have been caught in a racist e-mail
scandal joking about the electrocution of an Indian train
passenger and suggesting that it could be "a way to fix the
Indian student problem" in Melbourne.
The police officers of the Australian state of Victoria
circulated sickening video footage showing the death of the
man, who was travelling on the roof of a crowded train in
India, 'The Herald Sun' reported Saturday.
When the train stopped at a station the man stood up and
touched an overhead power cable. Onlookers screamed as he was
electrocuted, showed the clip contained in one of the
offending e-mails.
The e-mail containing the shocking video began
circulating in the Victoria Police computer system and racist
comments were added, suggesting "this might be a way to fix
the Indian student problem".
The paper said it has discovered some of the force's
highest-ranked officers have been implicated in the scandal,
which also involves pornographic material.
Three superintendents were nabbed during an investigation
into the circulation of inappropriate e-mails through the
police computer system and several inspectors have also been
caught, the report said.
E-mails probed by the Ethical Standards Department's
(ESD's) Operation Barrot contain pornographic, homophobic,
racist and violent material.
Reacting to the scandal, Chief Commissioner Simon
Overland described the e-mails as "disturbing, offensive and
gross".
The scandal involving "sick" Victorian police officers
came at a time when the force's command was trying to ease
racial tension after a number of assault cases involving
Indian students living in Melbourne.
Victorian Premier John Brumby criticised the actions of
the police who circulated the racist material.
"This is completely offensive and contrary to the views
and values at the heart of the Victorian community - tolerance
and respect," he said.
A police spokesman said the e-mails were offensive.
"These are matters which demanded we took action. Some of the
content was extremely offensive and we can't tolerate that
within the ranks of Victoria Police," he said. PTI KIM
DDC


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