Security helpline to protect Indian students from violence

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, May 12 (PTI) In the wake of rising incidents
of violence against Indian students here, a new helpline
service to protect them and improve their personal security
will be launched.

The new service, a part of the initiative by 'Police
Indian Western Reference Group' that was formed of local
police and Indian community members here, will come into
effect on Friday.

The helpline will provide guidance on what to do and
where to go in an emergency situation.

Commenting on the Saturday's attack on a 21-year-old
Indian student, Victorian police spokesperson told PTI that
the local police is carrying out proactive crime prevention
work with Universities in particularly with overseas students,
to help them improve their personal security.

Meanwhile, a media report said here that statistics
obtained by opposition under Freedom of Information laws
revealed that violent crimes against persons in a western
region of Melton rose by 101 per cent from 2000-2001 to
2007-2008. There was an increase of 51 per cent over the same
period in another western suburb of Brimbank.

However, Federation of Indian Students of Australia
maintained its version that police has failed to curb racist
attacks against Indians and reference group and it did not see
many positive developments from the reference group. PTI NC
SAK