Charm of studying abroad not marred by Oz attacks

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): The brutal attacks on Indian students in Australia has not hampered the spirit of those who are all set to fly to the United States for higher studies.

At least 81 students and scholars, selected by various US universities, participated in an orientation programme that was organized by the US Embassy at New Delhi on Thursday. All the students seemed quite excited about their visit to America.

"I don't think we need to generalize in terms of Australia and America. So far all the scholars who have gone there, they have been fully protected. Dangerous things can happen to anybody. I don't think I need to feel insecure about what happened in Australia," said Gitanjali Natarajan, a research scholar selected by the Columbia University.

In the course of the orientation lectures, the Executive Director of United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) Adam J Grotsky assured that the Indian students are quite safe in the university campuses of the United States.

"My general sense is that things are quite safe on US campuses. After some of the horrendous events that took place in some of our campuses, things have become safer. There is campus security in addition to the local municipal police officers," Grotsky noted.

He also mentioned that those students who are going abroad for further studies should participate in their pre-departure orientation programme because it concerns the health, safety and security of the students in foreign countries.

USA, Australia and UK are the major destinations for Indian students for studying abroad.

A series of racial attacks have been occurring for more than a year in Australia, which came into light only when a student named Sravan Kumar Theerthala was left fighting for his life after being stabbed with a screwdriver in Melbourne.

However, Australian Police has repeatedly denied that racial hatred was a factor in the attacks on Indian students.

He claimed that Indian students traveled late at night with items such as mobile phones and Ipods, which invited miscreants. (ANI)