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Saturday July 31, 2010

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Police deny cover-up in latest racist attack

Posted by: Mex Cooper and Sarah-Jane Collins for 3AW.com.au | 16 September, 2009 - 2:38 PM

Police have defended a four-day delay in releasing details about a racist attack on four men in Melbourne’s north-east that has sparked outrage in India.

The Times of India today reported that up to 70 people were involved in the bashing of Sukhdip Singh, 26, his brother Gurdeep Singh, uncle Mukhtair Singh and nephew Indpal Singh, 20.

But Victoria Police acting Senior Sergeant Glenn Parker said the attack had been exaggerated in Indian press reports and denied there had been a cover-up by police.

"That’s certainly not the case," he said.

"The view of the organisation is that, unfortunately, within the community these types of incidences happen regularly and this is really treated no differently so there’s been no deliberate attempt to suppress it. It’s just part of a normal police procedure and investigation into an incident."

The four men were playing pool in a bar in Epping about 11pm on Saturday when a woman celebrating with a large group of people began to make racial slurs, police said.

The men then left the Legends bar in High Street and were followed to the car park by up to four men, who beat them in front of a large group of people.

Acting Senior Sergeant Parker today denied Indian media reports that up to 70 people had been involved in the assault.

He said 15 to 20 people were believed to have watched the assault and were yelling racial abuse when police arrived.

Acting Senior Sergeant Parker said "tensions were high" and one of the women had thrown water over a bystander, believed to be Indian, at the scene.

The victims suffered facial and and head injuries and were treated at Northern Hospital.

A relative of one of the victims told The Times of India that the group had yelled at the victims to "go back to their country".

"They were quietly playing and were trying to avoid trouble even after these locals were trying to provoke them by passing comments," he said.

"When they reached the car park to leave the place, a huge crowd attacked them and started bashing."

Acting Senior Sergeant Parker said Mill Park police created an incident report about the assault, which included that racist remarks had been made. The report would have been received by Victoria Police’s media unit by early Sunday morning, he said.

A press release was not issued on the assault until this morning after the attack made headlines in India.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said because four men were arrested following the assault there had been no "operational reason" for police to publicise the incident.

The four arrested men, aged between 20 and 30, were later released without charge. Police are now seeking witnesses.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said today a spate of racist attacks had damaged Victoria and Australia’s image in India.

"Some of the events of the past few months have damaged our brand and the Australian brand in India and I can only repeat that overall we remain one of the safest places in the world," he said.

Mr Brumby said he would not comment on the weekend attack, but that any violence, racially motivated or not, was unacceptable.

"If you look at Victoria as a whole we remain the safest state in Australia in terms of our crime rate," he said.

"Any violence which does occur and any violence which is racially motivated is completely unacceptable ... and I’ll keep repeating this message as long as I have to to get the message out there."

The premier is due to visit Indian next week as a part of a series of visits by high-profile politicians to try and curb fears that Australia is not a safe place for international students.

He said he would meet with key Indian officials to discuss the issue and also with students to encourage them to continue to come to Victoria and study.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed the assault to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to www.crimestoppers.com.au

Blog comments Your Say

  • Mr Brumby, this incidence of violence on our streets is a predictable consequence of Nixon’s reluctence to pursue Sudanese gang violence in our suburbs. NOW you’re worried about losing billions of dollars? Maybe you should have thought of that when it actually mattered, instead of focusing on getting yourself elected~!?!? That’s what I love about politicians, they’re so deep, caring and sensitive to community safety, particularly when it affects their bottom line~!

    Lenny Thursday 17 September, 2009 - 9:15 AM

  • Definitely in damage control mode now brumby. Might do good to educate youngsters to learn about cultural diversity and embrace it at an earlier age? Perhaps, it might be good to cash in on the coming gas supply revenue and build more prisons and reformative centres and have more police too.

    Davin Thursday 17 September, 2009 - 3:30 AM

  • Good on you Brumby, go and visit India and quell their fears of attacks in your beloved Melbourne why don't you?
    While you're at it, why don't you fire up a 000 call centre in Bombay?
    That way, we may just get a quicker response from Victoria's hideous 'Camel Jockey' Police Force when called!!!

    Gerard Wednesday 16 September, 2009 - 10:24 PM

  • Brumby and his 'crime rate' figures~! LMFAO Safest state? Brumby, YOU really need to get a grip of reality~!

    Lenny Wednesday 16 September, 2009 - 3:42 PM

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