Indians asked to keep low profile in Oz

Melbourne, Feb 19: Indian students in Melbourne, Victoria, have reportedly been told to keep a low profile as part of a strategy to crack down on violent robberies.

According to The Age, it has often been found that Indians speak too loudly in their native tongue and flaunt their wealth at odd hours of the day.

Robberies in Melbourne's western suburbs jumped by 27 per cent last financial year. Police estimated almost a third of victims were of Indian appearance.

A special police group has been formed to combat the robberies amid fears that some are racially motivated and that Indian international students are soft targets because they carry iPods and laptops on trains late at night.

The Federation of Indian Students of Australia says Melbourne, which has about 33,000 Indian international students, may no longer be seen as a safe destination.

Inspector Scott Mahony, of Brimbank police, said it was crucial to stop Indian students becoming victims and address their mistrust of police.

The Police Indian Western Reference Group was formed after 100 Indian men marched on Sunshine police station in December to protest against what they said was a poor response to the attacks.

ANI