Australia assures safety of Indian students, says S.M. Krishna.

Bangalore, May 29 (ANI): External Affairs minister S. M. Krishna on Friday said that the Australian Government has given it assurance about the safety of Indian students living in Australia.

"I just spoke to the Foreign Minister of Australia. He has assured me that those responsible for the assault on Indian students will be punished, investigations are on. He has reassured me that they (the attackers) will be punished. He also said all the Indian students living in Australia will be protected," said S. M. Krishna.

Earlier in the day, India had summoned the Australian High Commissioner to convey the nation's concern over a slew of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and urged steps to ensure such assaults do not recur.

Four Indian students were attacked with a screwdriver by a gang at a party last weekend, and one remains in hospital with serious injuries.

On Monday, an Indian student was attacked in what appeared to be a robbery. There were three other attacks in early May, including two on Indian taxi drivers.

There is a growing outrage in India over the recent attacks on Indian students living in Australia.

There is a growing perception that these are racial attacks against Indian students.

Meanwhile, Australian police had detained a teenager in connection with the recent attack on Sravan Kumar Theerthala, an Indian student, and has charged him with attempted murder.

The injured Indian student is under treatment in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Melbourne.

More than 80,000 of them have enrolled in Australian institutions since August last year. (ANI)