Most attacks on Indian students in St Petersburg

New Delhi, Oct 13: In the continuing hate campaign against Indian students in Russia, one third of the racial attacks during the past year were reported from St.Petersburg alone followed by Moscow and Voronezh (about 50 km from Moscow).

Sources in the External Affairs Ministry here said today that while Moscow reported for 25 per cent of the total attacks, 10 per cent took place in Voronezh.

Last year, more than 30 murders and 380 attacks were racial.

''Foreign students, especially those with dark skin or hair, are vulnerable to harassment and assault,'' the sources said.

On September 24, in one such incident, Nitesh Kumar Singh, a 6th year Indian student from Mechnikov Medical Academy, St Petersburg, was stabbed to death by a group of eight masked people in front of his hostel building.

Earlier in April, a fifth year student from the same medical academy, Kishore Kumar Anjangi, was also attacked in the same area but he survived.

In addition, 11 foreign students from Africa, Asia and Latin America have been attacked during the past one year in St Petersburg and Voronezh, some fatally.

India has already asked its students in Russia to be ''very vigilant'' and take adequate precautions for their personal safety.

An advisory issued by the Indian embassy in Moscow and the Consulate in St Petersburg to Indian students, asking them to take precautions for their safety, said there could be no substitute to remaining vigilant and exercising due caution and prudence in one's movements.

India has also strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government and have been assured that Moscow would look into the issue. The Indian embassy in Moscow and the Consulate in St Petersburg are also in touch with organisations of Indian students.

The sources said Russian authorities had promised to take action against such groups and adopt necessary measures to improve the security of foreign students.

''Some preliminary steps seem to have been taken already in improving security conditions at the Mechnikov Medical Academy.

However, the problem of attacks on non-white foreign students in Russia would require a more comprehensive approach by the Russian authorities,'' the sources added.

About 5000 Indian students are currently enrolled in various medical and technical institutions in the Russian Federation. More than 95 per cent of them are pursuing Medical studies in about 20 Academies spread over the country.

All the Russian medical institutions empanelled under the WHO list and certified by the Indian Embassy in Moscow are recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

UNI