A student from Andhra Pradesh who was among four students from India, assaulted by a group of teenagers this week, is battling for life in a hospital in Melbourne.
Shravan Kumar, the 25-year-old student, is critical, said one of his close friends who had a narrow escape during that attack.
"Doctors are still unsure if Kumar will survive and if he does, he will lose his vision or memory", Kumar's friend, Sinivas Gandhi, said.
Teenagers attacked four Indian students while they were partying here over the weekend, leaving Kumar in a serious condition.
Sinivas said the attackers abused them and said they should go back to India. They were hit with a screwdriver by the attackers who apparently were in drunken state. While three were discharged after medical treatment, Kumar is still fighting for his life.
Kumar, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, came to Australia two years ago and was a student of automotive engineering at Cambridge International College here. Sinivas said, the police had asked them to take care of their own security and even said that they "can't go on protecting each and everyone".
He said they were also asked to change their residence in a bid to protect themselves. Violent attacks on Indians have been growing over the last few years and has raised serious concern for aspiring students who wish to study in Australia.
Attack on Kumar is a second in a month. Earlier, a 21-year old student, Sourabh Sharma, was bashed up in a train.
The Victorian Police who have played down racial factor in such attacks have announced measures like dispatching a police team to India to create awareness among aspiring students coming to study.
However, Federation of Indian Student Association (FISA) has criticised police for doing nothing. Gautum Gupta, FISA's member said, "Why can't police do something in Victoria. Why we can't see some effective measures by them here only for the culprits rather than going to India to advice students there."
"They need to come out with stricter measures for such culprits including media campaigns similar to what they have as 'No to domestic violence," Gupta suggested.
