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Thousands of students, shaken by a wave of racial assaults, including on 25-year-old Shravan Kumar who is battling for life in a local hospital, blocked the busiest street of the city, demanding justice.
The protest, however, was called off early Monday morning after the protesters accused police of "ramrodding" them to break up their sit-in.
The identities of the 18 detained were not yet known and it was also unclear whether they were still under detention.
Speaking to the Parliament, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd termed the spate of attacks on Indians as 'deplorable' and gave an assurance that his government was working to bring those responsible to justice "as a matter of urgency".
Rudd told the Parliament that he had spoken to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh about the attacks, that saw hundreds of students take to the streets in Melbourne.
As the issue echoed in Parliament, a taxi driver from Hyderabad became the latest Indian to be assaulted in here.
The victim was bashed up and punched by a passenger, who was in an inebriated state.
The 35-year old driver was assaulted by the drunk passenger after he expressed inability to take him further due to technical problem in his vehicle.
The victim, who went unconscious after the attack on Sunday, was taken to the hospital by the police, who also took hold of the attacker, a family member said.
The victim, however, said he did not think it was a racially motivated attack but an "opportunistic crime".
Rudd, meanwhile said his government will work closely with the states and territories "as a matter of urgency" to work on ways to help international students feel safer.
"I speak on behalf of all Australians when I say that we deplore and condemn these attacks," he said.
"I said to Prime Minister Singh that the more than 90,000 Indian students in Australia are welcome guests in our country" Rudd told the Parliament.
Meanwhile, describing the attacks as "profoundly un-Australian," opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said: "These students are guests in our country and this recent violent behaviour has the potential to do great damage to the reputation of Australia as a destination of choice".
Anita Nair, Indian Consulate General in Melbourne, said that constant discussions were on with the Australian authorities on the safety and security of Indian students.
"I assume everyone has a right to express themselves, but within Australian laws," Nair said, adding investigations will follow will be transparent and fair one in regard to the detained.
Commenting on the issue, trade Minister Simon Crean also said Indian authorities raised concerns about students being targeted more than a year ago. He said their complaints were being taken up seriously.
Australian Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland also gave assurance that security will be stepped up for Indian students, even as he justified the use of force to break protests by hundreds of demonstrators here.
Overland said Australian police was working hard towards ensuring security for Indian students and a representative was being sent to India to discuss security issues with prospective students.
"We have made a number of arrests this week and we will continue to work harder," Overland said.
He said there was some force used after students were given the opportunity to leave and they refused to do so.
He defended action to disperse protesters, who refused to move from one of the busiest streets of Melbourne till early this morning, saying the police was "entirely justified" in using force to break up the protest.
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I do not know why some self assumed slaves start talking about Indian castes system when Indians are being killed worldwide. is there any connection?? All the jobs and parliament are reserved for lower castes and minorities. What else anyone can do to uplift downrotten? As I always affirmed that upper and medium class can not go and perform vasctomy to people living in slums- it is their self control and government's duty. If in Australia someone might have published Allah's cartoon- Our government of cowards may act with some responsibility. Globally Indians are punished for doing nothing. In US - Americans cause the global recession, companies on stimulus money like GM are completely moving to China, but all congressmen and general public- if have anything oto target - outsourcing to India and Indian workers here. Slavery of 1400 years cannot be washed out easily.
Dont be so precious guys - being called a "curry muncher" is a slang term of endearment in Oz - Oh, and we also call New South Welshmen "Cockroaches" and Queenslanders "banana benders"; South Aussies are "Croweaters" and West Aussies are "sandgropers" the english are "poms", italians "wogs", New Zealanders "kiwis" etc etc. Learn the lingo and accept the culture; it is what it is, and it definitely isnt a racist taunt. (BTW, we kind of wear being called a "convict" like a bdage of honour - maybe you should find a better insult, but it might take a while -we are a bit more thick skinned than you)
I am shocked that this e-newspaper is not filtering some of these comments!!! It is not fair to label any country as racist. There are bad apples EVERYWHERE on this planet! The bottom line is every student needs to go through an orientation at her/his Foreign University to learn how to live in the local environment.
Kevin rudd need to talk to his people of australia not to his counter part Mr.Singh.What ever people are doing need to be stopped for gods sake ,for sure people are not doing for drugs or money rather they want to show their anger by slashing our indians .Kevin Rudd can only stop them from doing so . He just have to speak to the public on live media. For Indians -- Please maintain your calm and patience rather than taking a hasty step by coming back from the country.Things will be resolved and solved.however there is one thing i want to let my fellow indians know that if you want to fight the freedom/racism struggle, you got to stay in australia and fight.All over the world people of india are with you guys . SamarjitCanada
Some of these comments are appallingly ingnorant!! Talk of convicts etc - are you serious? Let us look at ourselves and our caste system, our violence against minorities and other religions! Lets ask how many white teeneagers were attacked amnd hospitalised in Australia on that same weekend through random acts of violence?? I woul;d think many. I wonder how many Indian Students in India were subject to violence in the same period? Why should the motivation for an attack make it worse than any othere attack? Why is an attack because of someones race worse than an attack because someone is smaller, or is a woman or is a different religion etc. Indians should sort out their own issues with racism before commenting on anyone else.
As an Australian who has extensive contact with Indians here, I find the overwhelming majority to be pleasant, hard-working and courteous. However, I understand there is a caste system in India, an extremely racist system in itself, which is extremely prohibitive on many of your country-men from having a better life. Many Indians in Australia are from a higher caste and therefore project a sense of heightened superiority, which when exhibited through communication, appears to us Australians, as like being talked down to. Australians do not like being talked down to. I understand that this is cultural, but many Australians see this as rude and be-littling. If I may advise any Indians coming to Australia, take the old saying into account: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Lastly, we here receive reports from India of Hindu attacks on Sikhs, Hindu attacks on Muslims and Christians and the 'untouchables'. Please don't throw stones in glasshouses. Australia is very safe and welcoming.
It is very unfortunate that our brothers were attacked in Australia. These are inhuman behavior of a few unruly being. But to dub Australia as a unruly nation is not fair. Have we been secure to live in our own country safely? We Indians are attacked by our own nationals, to a far greater extent than in other countries. Shamefully incidents of foreigners being attacked in our country is far more than what we have been witnessing for the last few days. Our government should put pressure on Australian government to ensure security to all foreigners, but should not blame Australians as racist. Also, it would be better we behaved well in a foreign country, understand their culture and have mutual respect for each other. If Australians are racist because of the recent incidents, then we are also racist, as a Australian father and sons were torched in our country several years back.
Dandy, I'd suggest you learn to spell first before generalising about a country of 1 billion people. Also, sagoline, no one 'inherits' criminal behaviour. Just because most of the inhabitants of early Australia were criminals, doesn't mean every single Ozzie today is born and bred with crime in his blood. If that were the case, Australia would not be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Tourism would not be so big there and Sydney would not be one of the top destinations for immigrants.
it is strange that indian govt has not much to say . the aussies r criminals by heritage.. so what is th epoint in expecting civilised behaviour fm them . they enlish thugs going with othername aussies . indian students should withdraw en masse and leave aus. srinisan the indian asson chairman reflects indian tendency to be servile .. he should resign.....all indians should shed servility and stand up and fight and livk these thugs . sagoline
due to recent attacks on Indian students , The cricket board should take a decision not to play against Australia in T20.
On seeing the videos of the protestors being arrested by the Victorian Police,it seems Police has joined the party of bashing Indians.The best way to protest is for the students to leave Oz en masse and force the Indian Govt. to provide them seats in India.Govt. seems to be busy in their all important work of forming cabinet, allocation of portfolios, appeasement of Karuna.
Australia is NOT safe at night after 10 PM especially where alcohol flows.Actually most of the assaults are suffered by white Australians,not foreigners as the media makes it to be.We are living here since 1997.We found more blatant discrimination based on race in Singapore and even more in India based on caste than Australia.Most young Indian students I see here lie most of the time,break local laws and are very arrogant in behaviour.They don't realise personal privacy is valued and hard work is appreciated here.Nobody wants to know how many servants you have in India.Here the richest does most of his work himself.Almost all attacks here have robbery as the motive,not race.These criminals go after people who are vulnerable.Indian students should avoid travelling alone at night after 10PM;they MUST not work beyond 20 hours per week.Agitating Indian students were told repeatedly to move away from the cross-roads at busiest road junction in Melbourne.They did not.What do you expect ?
NOT ONLY AUSTRLIA MANY WESTERN COUNTRIES WHERE THESE INDIANS WITH BUNDLE OF INFERIORITY COMPLEX STUY ARE REALLY SHOPS SELLING CERTIFICATES.THESE CERTIFICATES ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY ANYONE.TRUTH IS MANY INDIANS TRAVEL TO WEST IN PRETEXT OF STUDYING IS TO MAKE MONEY AND THEY CLEAN TOILETS JUST TO EARNY MONEY AND NOT BOTHER ABOUT CASTE WHERE IN INDIA THE SAME TOILET CLEANER IS BEING TREATED WORST THAN ANIMALS.INDINS SHOULD FORST LEARN TO RESPECT OTHERS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY,THEN ONLY THEY WILL RSPECT OTHER CULTURES.WHY THERE ARE NO ATTACKS AGAINST CHINESE,PAKITANIES,SRI LANKANS BECAUSE THEY RESPECT THE MANNERS IN THEIR HOST COUNTRIES.
In Australia its about money they do not care about "curry munchers" in fact they dislike us. Even the cricketers feel the same they only tour because we offer so much money. When they return they have nothing good to say and complain about how backward we are. We Indians are stupid.
Please! Have a think about the Hindu attacks on christians, muslims and sikhs in India, then add the extreme discrimation displayed in the caste system. And Australia is racist? Most of the commentators here need to learn a bit about the violence in their own country. But as usual many of you prefer to live in a dream world. Superior Indians? Id prefer to walk alone on a street in Melbourne than any in India. Oh and how do Indians treat women? Ive seen the way you stare at girls up and down objectifying them and thinking about what you would do. But no sir, im a good boy, i wouldnt think such things. It would help if some Indians opened their eyes and were a little bit more honest. And it might be a good idea to stop killing minoroties in your own country for the crime of practicing another religion.
I just want to point out the 2 sides. Some Indian students definitely are ill mannered and "invite" trouble. While I can also say that some are too docile and do not communicate nor stand up for their rights. I hope all Indian Students travelling abroad go through an orientation of knowing their local environment and understand their rights, stay in groups if they can..... Of course what happened to some of them is deplorable and the police need to take action.
TO INDIAN STUDENTS,WHY SPEND LAKHS AND LAKHS OF RUPEES TO GET ROBBED, LOOTED, MURDERED, AND RAPED BY RACIST OZ PEOPLE? HAVEN'T U READ THEIR HISTORY AND ORIGIN?
"born abroad indian" "inferiority complex""very condescending towards other people""They speak as if they know everything"Well, well, this extremely sophisticated, nuanced, cultured and civilized person still finds a way to justify brutal racist attacks on and murder of Indians. Mirror mirror on the wall, why does he like to pontificate like them all? Says quite a few things about "born abroad indian", doesn't it?
Well, by the tone of many of your letters, you obviously think you have the high moral ground here. I live in the middle east and I can tell you without a doubt that Indians definitely see a persons "race" as a measure of them as a person. In almost every conversation regarding any problem or issue, my Indian colleagues invariably measure a persons status by their nationality, whether it be Sri Lankan, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Arab or Asian. So before you get on your high horse and condemn all "convict Australians" for being racist, have you considered that it might just be that they were mugged by a drunk (or by anyone of the above nationalities?). Here's a tip - you might go better if you weren't so well balanced (i.e having a chip on BOTH shoulders). You are all welcome in Australia. But like all immigrants, just leave your problems and prejudices at the door (and if you want to leave, yeah well, whatever, just don't let that door hit your arse on the way out...)
Give Australians the benefit of doubt- if u have never been to Australia, u will never really know if they are racist or not- yes maybe a few are
Also to all of u suggesting that the police "manhandled" the Indian students...well what do you expect? Even in India when there is a protest - even if the intentions are to be peaceful, if even one act of violence takes place, IT IS THE DUTY of the police to bring the situation under control- if Aus police had to use force, then maybe they had no choice- protests are never a good idea esp in foreign lands where people are wary of mob mentality...I have noticed that Indian media is going overboard
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH you guys!! all u Indians calling all Australians racist- you are no worse than the idiots who did this crime!What happened was indeed unfortunate, but we still dont know if the crime was racially motivated.Aus has indeed welcomed many Indians in the past years
We Indians are quick in accusing others, but a little bit of self-introspection might help. It seems we end up doing a violent protest in so many cases. Indian police and politicians should learn from Aus counterparts and arrest those in Bihar and Punjab for destroying public properties and disturbing peace.
The australians are still in British Colony. The rude and arrogant nature of the country is well published in the world. The words are just consolation but lughter in the mouth.
To all those folks who crib about IndianStudents reportedly not being able to speak English: How many Aussies or foreigners have you see met speaking any of the Indian languages, when they visit India??? We should be proud that hundreds of millions of Indians can communicate in English ( foreign language for us ) but no Aussies make an effort to speak or learn any of the Indian languages. So no foreigner has any right to say ‘They can’t even speak English!’