A man, who went berserk in an alcohol-fuelled racist attack on an Indian taxi driver around 2.15 a.m. today, was swiftly awarded 3-month imprisonment and fined A$ 1,520 within hours of his being caught.

The 24 year-old cabbie identified as Satheesh Thatipamula, who was racially abused and punched several times, did not suffer any serious injuries.The attack - the sixth publicised incident involving Indians in Australia so far this month - coincided with Aboriginal leader Tom Calma today saying that there is “inherent racism” in Australia and “attitudes have to change”. Calma, the outgoing Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner, said the recent attacks on Indians in Australia could be racially motivated. “I think some of them may be,” Calma told a local radio station.

Paul John Brogden, a 48-year-old resident of Navigators located near Ballarat, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful assault, one count of criminal damage and making threats to kill. Ballarat, which is a historic gold mining town in Western Victoria, is located about two hours drive from Melbourne.

The assailant had called for a taxi about 2 a.m. in a drunken state after an extended binge drinking session and initially became verbally abusive towards Satheesh after he believed the driver had taken him the wrong way. In what were clearly racist remarks, the passenger allegedly said: “When you drop me off I will kill you, you mother f**ing Indian, I will kill you, you f**ing Indian b**d.”

Fearful of his safety, Satheesh pressed the emergency button in his taxi, pulled into a service station and got out of the car following which Brogden followed him into a store and punched him several times in the head. The assailant also hit another man who was pumping petrol. The attacker then ran back to the cab, smashed a window, and stole an Eftpos machine, a GPS device and a radio.The police arrived soon after and arrested the drunken man. A police official acknowledged that the passenger “was drunk and threatened to kill the driver and racially vilified him”.While sentencing the man to an immediate 3-month jail term, the magistrate, Michelle Hodgson, said she must consider “general deterrence”. “Regardless of race, violence toward people in vulnerable positions, performing valuable services to the community, valuable jobs like driving taxis or working in 7/11s, violence toward these people will not be tolerated,” he said. 

New Delhi, January 15
Protesting against the row of violent attacks against Indians living in Australia, the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) Delhi wing today staged a peaceful protest march to the Australian Embassy, along with hundreds of supporters, and urged the government of Australia to conduct probes and bring to book the people responsible for the attacks. The group also submitted a memorandum to the Australian High Commission“There seems to be no end to the racial attacks on Indians in Australia. Now a religious place, gurdwara, in Melbourne has been attacked by some anti-social elements. We appeal to the Australian government to act tough against the culprits,” said one of the senior SAD leaders.

Demanding stringent action against culprits that leaves no room for any such future incidents assuring safety to the Indian community in Australia, the SAD members expressed their anguish and pain over the recent incidents.

“Parents strive hard to send their children to countries like Australia in the hope of quality education and a better life. Never for a minute did we think that they would be subject to assault, violence and such racism,” said Jathedar Mangit singh, president, SAD Delhi.