SM Krishna condemns killing of Indian student in Australia

Strongly condemning the "brutal" killing of an Indian student in Melbourne, India today asked Australia to bring to book those responsible for the crime, and said such incidents could have a "bearing" on bilateral ties.

"The brutal attack on the Indian student is strongly condemnable. I call on the Australian authorities to speedily bring to book persons responsible for the crime," external affairs minister SM Krishna told reporters in Bangalore.

He said the Australian government should realise that India is a vibrant democracy, and such attacks were making the public opinion "polarised".

Krishna said Australian authorities should take note of the "deep anger" being caused by such incidents, and the "bearing" they could have on bilateral ties.

Noting that New Delhi has been drawing the attention of the Australian authorities to these incidents, and asking Canberra to take stringent measures, he said India's concerns should be adequately addressed by the Australian government.

A statement issued by the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi said Krishna has directed the Indian high commissioner in Canberra and the Indian consul general in Melbourne to closely coordinate with the Australian authorities and extend all assistance to the family of victim Nitin Garg.

21-year-old Garg, who migrated from Punjab and had a permanent residency in Australia, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants last night while he was on his way to a fast food joint, where he worked part-time.

There has been a string of racist attacks on Indians in Australia since last year, but Garg is the first victim to have died.