Racism raises its ugly face again in Australia, another Keralite attacked by a group of teenagers
Another racist attack has come to light in the Indian community in Australia, this time in the city of Hobart, just in a span of a week raising concerns among the 450,000 strong Indian-community in Australia about the rising evil of racism.
33-year-old Li Max Joy, a Malayali taxi-driver, a native of Puthuppally near Kottayam, was assaulted by a group of Australian teenagers in the early hours on Saturday, March 25.
Even worse, the local police are believed to have discouraged Mr Max from formally launching a Police complaint.
However, an undeterred Mr Max is determined to pursue this further and take the offenders to justice, seeking help from India’s Minister of External Affairs.
This is second attack in as many weeks of attack on Indian nationals in Australia.
Earlier a Catholic priest from Kerala was attacked by a man on Sunday, March 19, when the former was leading the Sunday mass in a Melbourne church.
Speaking to a local Indian Media from Hobart on the phone, Mr Joy had said: "I will stand till my last breath to make sure they will be punished under the Australian law."
Mr Joy is a qualified automobile engineer from India and currently pursuing nursing in an Australian university and works part-time as a taxi driver.
According to Mr Joy, a group of teenagers were in the midst of a heated argument with the store manager at a local McDonald’s restaurant when he walked in there and suddenly found to become the centre of group’s ire and frustration.
The group is believed to have initiated an unprovoked racist slur “you black Indian” followed by incessant punches on Mr Joy.
"On my way back home I had dropped in at the eatery to use the toilet. I dropped my plan to have a coffee as I saw a group of youngsters arguing with the store manager.
As I went to my car and took out my jacket from the boot of the car, the group of four boys and a girl came out.
The youngster walking in front was continuously abusing the store manager and when he saw me started shouting at me saying "You black Indian ...". Even before I could realise what was happening, the person punched me on my face twice. The others joined him, and I lost count of the punches I received,” Mr Joy said recalling the most harrowing experience of his life.
The incident happened at wee hours of the day at around 5 a.m., with few passerby still around, though no one came to his rescue.
However, the store manager was quick enough to call police in a loud voice to signal the perpetrators that police were on its way.
Mr Joy later thanked the store manager for saving his life.
The Police had arrived at the scene shortly and took down details about the incident.
Nevertheless, Mr Joy’s ill-experience was not yet over as he alleges that local police was least sensitive to the fact that he was a victim of a racist attack in a foreign country, which can be quite harrowing.
Next morning on Sunday, March 26, he received a phone call from Police at 6.45 a.m. asking him to report at the station at 9 a.m. for photographs and other formalities regarding the case.
Mr Joy alleges that he was made to wait for an hour at the police station without any empathy and compassion and was made to feel like a criminal rather than a victim of a racist attack.
"I waited there for around one hour, and there was neither a cameraman nor were they interested in attending to my case," Mr Joy says.
Indian Weekender had approached the local Tasmania police seeking further clarification on this case; the police have yet to respond.
Another racist attack has come to light in the Indian community in Australia, this time in the city of Hobart, just in a span of a week raising concerns among the 450,000 strong Indian-community in Australia about the rising evil of racism.
33-year-old Li Max Joy, a Malayali taxi-driver, a native...
Another racist attack has come to light in the Indian community in Australia, this time in the city of Hobart, just in a span of a week raising concerns among the 450,000 strong Indian-community in Australia about the rising evil of racism.
33-year-old Li Max Joy, a Malayali taxi-driver, a native of Puthuppally near Kottayam, was assaulted by a group of Australian teenagers in the early hours on Saturday, March 25.
Even worse, the local police are believed to have discouraged Mr Max from formally launching a Police complaint.
However, an undeterred Mr Max is determined to pursue this further and take the offenders to justice, seeking help from India’s Minister of External Affairs.
This is second attack in as many weeks of attack on Indian nationals in Australia.
Earlier a Catholic priest from Kerala was attacked by a man on Sunday, March 19, when the former was leading the Sunday mass in a Melbourne church.
Speaking to a local Indian Media from Hobart on the phone, Mr Joy had said: "I will stand till my last breath to make sure they will be punished under the Australian law."
Mr Joy is a qualified automobile engineer from India and currently pursuing nursing in an Australian university and works part-time as a taxi driver.
According to Mr Joy, a group of teenagers were in the midst of a heated argument with the store manager at a local McDonald’s restaurant when he walked in there and suddenly found to become the centre of group’s ire and frustration.
The group is believed to have initiated an unprovoked racist slur “you black Indian” followed by incessant punches on Mr Joy.
"On my way back home I had dropped in at the eatery to use the toilet. I dropped my plan to have a coffee as I saw a group of youngsters arguing with the store manager.
As I went to my car and took out my jacket from the boot of the car, the group of four boys and a girl came out.
The youngster walking in front was continuously abusing the store manager and when he saw me started shouting at me saying "You black Indian ...". Even before I could realise what was happening, the person punched me on my face twice. The others joined him, and I lost count of the punches I received,” Mr Joy said recalling the most harrowing experience of his life.
The incident happened at wee hours of the day at around 5 a.m., with few passerby still around, though no one came to his rescue.
However, the store manager was quick enough to call police in a loud voice to signal the perpetrators that police were on its way.
Mr Joy later thanked the store manager for saving his life.
The Police had arrived at the scene shortly and took down details about the incident.
Nevertheless, Mr Joy’s ill-experience was not yet over as he alleges that local police was least sensitive to the fact that he was a victim of a racist attack in a foreign country, which can be quite harrowing.
Next morning on Sunday, March 26, he received a phone call from Police at 6.45 a.m. asking him to report at the station at 9 a.m. for photographs and other formalities regarding the case.
Mr Joy alleges that he was made to wait for an hour at the police station without any empathy and compassion and was made to feel like a criminal rather than a victim of a racist attack.
"I waited there for around one hour, and there was neither a cameraman nor were they interested in attending to my case," Mr Joy says.
Indian Weekender had approached the local Tasmania police seeking further clarification on this case; the police have yet to respond.
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