Expedite probe into attacks, India tells Australia

Expedite probe into attacks, India tells Australia New Delhi, Jan 11: Two days after another Indian was attacked down under, this time set ablaze alive by unidentified attackers in Melbourne, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna Monday spoke to his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith and asked him to fast-track the probe into such incidents.

"I spoke to the foreign minister of Australia. I have drawn his attention to the increasing assaults, some of them fatal, on Indian students," Krishna told reporters here.

"And I have requested him to expedite the investigation so that the culprits can be brought to justice," Krishna added.

Conveying growing concern in India over continuing attacks on Indian students, Krishna sought an update on the status of the probe into the killing of Nitin Garg, a 21-year-old Indian student over a week ago, and the latest incident in which another Indian was attacked and set on fire.

Jaspreet Singh, a 29-year-old Indian man, was attacked and set on fire in the early hours of Saturday by four unidentified men at Essendon in Melbourne while he was parking his car shortly before 2 a. m.

He is said to be in a stable condition in Alfred Hospital with burns to 20 percent of his body.

Voicing outrage over the incident, India has asked Australia to deliver on its promise of ensuring the security of Indian students. (IANS)