The overnight protest rally by Indian students in Melbourne ended abruptly when police swooped-in early Monday morning and dragged students off the Federation Square. Students were sitting there all night in below seven-degree temperature to protest against increasing attacks on Indian community in Melbourne.
"Students initially resisted the police charge and they stood defiantly holding each others hands. However, crowd began to disperse when police started hitting and dragging students to a nearby police van. They detained at least 18 students," says Yogesh Malhotra, a former student who was at the rally to show his solidarity with students.
Students were demanding that Victorian Premier John Brumby should personally give assurance that protection will be provided to the students in Melbourne.
Thousands of students took to the streets in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon to protest a series of brutal attacks on Indian students in Melbourne. The protest, which was meant to be a peaceful rally, turned violent when a group of Australian youngsters raised slogans about Australia in the rally.
Police quickly interrupted to control the situation. However, two Indian students were arrested after they clashed with police. Reportedly, students broke windows and hurled Indian flag on Melbourne historic Flinders Street station.
The rally, organised by the Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA), aimed to create awareness about hate crimes against Indian students. The rally began at noon from the Federation Square and students then marched through Melbourne's central business district to all the way to the Victorian Parliament building. They finally made their way to Federation Square where they stopped all traffic.
"Police didn't come all night, but as it is Monday morning, they came just before the office traffic starts. There is no organized body or community leaders to protect us, we don't know what charges will they lay on detained students", says Malhotra.
Student seems to have little faith in local government and authorities. Ted Baillieu, Leader of the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition and Leader of the Opposition, who tried to address the rally, was booed away by the protestors.
"There is so much pent-up anger among students here. We understand this protest creates problem for commuters, but we have no options left," says Ashish Sharma, an accounting student.
"In comparison to local students, international students pay more than double in tuition fee. Govt doesn't give any concession to us. Not something as basic as travel concession and now we are being stabbed in public places... this is not what I bargained for", says Abhinav Sood, who has just finished his MBA from Swinburne University.
(Saurabh Azad is a former Indian journalist and now a permanent resident of Australia.)
