Indian held for hate crime against Sikhs in Sydney

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 17

The police in Australia have arrested an Indian with an expired visa for one among a series of violent incidents within the Indian community over the farm laws.

The man has been remanded to custody after being denied bail in the recent alleged ‘hate crime’ incident in Harris Park, Sydney.  A local TV channel, Seven News, reported that the arrested accused person’s visa has expired and could be deported.

“Sikhs identified by their turban were targeted because of tensions in India,” said the report, adding that further arrests are imminent.

Since September last year, local police officers have been investigating a number of incidents in Harris Park of Sydney, reported the Melbourne-based South Asia Times.

The Indian has been charged with three counts of affray, three counts of armed with intent to commit indictable offence, two counts of destroying or damaging and assault.

Detailing the three incidents, the New South Wales (NSW) police said in the first incident on September 16, a man was struck several times in the head with a baseball bat and then kicked when on the ground by a group of five men.

On February 14, a man driving a car was allegedly attacked by a group of up to five men, holding sticks and other weapons.

On February 28, a group of people travelling in a vehicle was allegedly attacked by up to 10 men, seriously damaging the vehicle.

“We are very happy with the NSW Police and hope all the culprits in the incidents are caught. These people have no place in the wider Indian community,” said Amar Singh, Turbans 4 Australia.

He said the Indian government’s representatives in Australia must step-up and take responsibility for the behaviour, most of whom he claimed have been identified by the police.

Australian-Indians have called on the Indian High Commission to step-up interaction with and monitor the behaviour of international students.

They have asked for a pre-flight strategic awareness plan for students coming to study in Australia outlining the country’s laws and values, so that the new arrivals know how they need to behave and what it takes to integrate into the Australian community.

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