Now, Indians face racism in Kiwiland

After Australia, there are now reports of racial attacks on Indians in New Zealand. A 23-year-old student from Ludhiana was reportedly attacked by a drunken youth this week.

Nitesh Khanna, a student of diploma in business studies at Auckland, was attacked when he was on his way to work. The youth tried to rob Nitesh of his car and even damaged it. Nitesh’s calls to the police for help went in vain.

The assailant chased Nitesh’s vehicle till his workplace where his employer came to his defence. Nitesh informed his family in Ludhiana about the incident.

His father Rakesh Khanna says, “The incident is an offshoot of racial attacks on Indian students in Australia over the past four-five days.”

The case is not an isolated one.

Sunil Sharma (name changed), doing hotel management course in Auckland, says, “I am subjected to frequent incidents of discrimination. But, I don’t want to get any case registered. Recently, a brick was hurled at me by some youths when I was returning home”.

“I know several other Indians facing the same situation. But, none of them will come on record, fearing problems in their academic careers,” he says.