It is not only Indians, but immigrants are being targeted for their different language or accent.: Victim Li Max Joy
An Indian man was allegedly assaulted by a group of teenagers, including a girl, who hurled racial abuses at him at a restaurant in Australia's Tasmania state on Sunday.
Li Max Joy, who is pursuing a nursing course and working as a part time taxi driver in Australia, alleged that five people including a girl hurled racial abuses like "you bloody black Indians" at him and assaulted him up at the McDonald s restaurant at North Hobart in the state.
But Sunday's incident with Joy was not an isolated one. While speaking to India Today, he said that in the span of two weeks, he has been racially attacked twice.
"It the second time something like this has happened in two weeks. Last week, a few teenagers were sitting at a taxi stand, one of the boys took water in his mouth and spewed on my face. It is not only Indians, but immigrants are being targeted for their different language or accent," said Joy told India Today.
Following Sunday's attack, police in Australia's Tasmania state on Monday said they have launched a probe into the assault on an Indian-origin man to assess whether it was a racially-motivated incident.
In a statement, the police said they have spoken to a number of witnesses and were following a particular line of inquiry in relation to the offender.
"The complainant will be kept informed of the status of the investigation as it progresses," police said. "Tasmania Police take all assaults seriously, and whether the assault was racially based will be a component of the investigative facts," it noted.
ANI reported police said, "We place great importance on safety,security of everyone who resides in Australia, including our Indian community."
The 33-year-old victim said that the teenagers had been arguing with the McDonald's staff when he reached the fast food centre, but turned their anger on him when they noticed him.
Joy was admitted to Royal Hobart Hospital with deep wounds. He was later discharged from hospital and he reported the incident to police.
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