Indian students holding a rally in front of Victorian Parliament in protest against recent violence — Photo courtesy South Asia Times

“At about five am on Monday morning, around a hundred police assembled and proceeded to violently attack the remaining protestors who stayed peacefully in the intersection outside Flinders St Station until late into the night. The protestors were sitting on the ground with arms linked. Rather than prising the students loose, the police mounted a vicious assault. I witnessed police officers stomp on a student’s chest, other police officers repeatedly punched students in the face. A sitting protestor was knocked unconscious by repeated punches to the head by a policeman. At least one baton was drawn and used to smash a protestor’s legs, while the front row of students was threatened with capsicum spray, an eyewitness to the incident Mr David Ridgewell, president of Swinburne University Student Union said.

“Students were asking for nothing more than basic safety”, continued Mr Ridgwell. “We were asking for staff on trains, more residential accomodation on campus, a community education program to challenge the racism that international students face. Instead of having their legitimate demands addressed, students have been treated to yet another brutal assault — this time from Victoria police.” Continue Reading

The burnt house of student Rajesh Kumar in Harris Park

In yet another case of violence towards the Indian community, a student suffered up to 30 per cent burns after a suspected petrol bomb was hurled at him in his home in Harris Park. The injuries could have been grave had his flat mate not shown the presence of mind and quickly grabbed a blanket and covered the burning boy with it.

Rajesh Kumar, 25, was sitting on his bed in the front room of his rented house when an unknown person threw what neighbours say was a small petrol bomb through his window just after 8pm. The explosion and subsequent fire left Mr. Kumar with burns to a third of his body.

A NSW Fire Brigades spokesman said Mr. Kumar’s flat mate Arminder Singh did the right thing when he grabbed a blanket and threw it over his friend, helping to extinguish the flames.

Mr. Singh, 33, said he was halfway between the laundry and kitchen when he heard the sound of smashing glass and his friend screaming. He and another flat mate, Chander Mohan, said they saw Mr. Kumar run out of his bedroom and out the front door with his back and arms on fire. Continue Reading

Arsonists set Himsagar Express on fire in Punjab

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has expressed deep concern over incidents of violence in Punjab.

In a message, Dr. Singh said, “I am deeply distressed by the outbreak of violence in Punjab following certain incidents in Vienna, Austria. Whatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people. Sikhism preaches tolerance and harmony. All the revered Gurus of Sikhism preached the values of equality, brotherhood and harmony. Invoking the teachings of the Gurus, I appeal to all sections of the people in Punjab to abjure violence and maintain peace. In areas where curfew has been imposed, it is necessary that people should go back to their homes and allow the security forces to restore law and order. I sincerely appeal to the people of Punjab to heed this message and help the authorities restore peace and order.”

Two persons were killed and several injured as violence triggered by the killing of a Dera leader engulfed Punjab and parts of Haryana where protestors set afire train coaches, buses and clashed with police prompting authorities to impose curfew in four cities and calling out the army in Jalandhar. Continue Reading

Mr. Pranab Mukherjee takes charge as Finance Minister on Monday

Mr. Pranab Mukherjee assumed his charge as the new Finance Minister, here today. He was welcomed by the Finance Secretary, Revenue Secretary, Expenditure Secretary, Disinvestment Secretary, CEA, Chairman, CBDT and Chairman, CBEC. After assuming charge, Mr. Mukherjee had a series of meetings with all the senior officers of the Ministry and reviewed the status of various programmes and issues relating to all the departments of the Ministry. Issues relating to forthcoming Budget were also discussed at the meetings.

Mr. AK Antony took over as the Defence Minister here today. He was also Defence Minister in the previous Union Government. After taking over as Defence Minister Mr. Antony said that the security scenario around India is becoming more and more challenging. The Minister said, “developments around us is a cause of serious concern to us. So eternal vigilance is a must”. He said, we have to further strengthen our security measures and also security apparatus by all means. The Defence Minister said, there is a need to give a push to the modernisation of Armed forces. But at the same time he cautioned that “in our anxiety for speedy procurement we cannot and must not compromise transparency”. Mr. Antony said, he is aware of the fact that the task which he has undertaken this time is more challenging. The Minister promised to pay more attention and work with more dedication, commitment and honesty to meet the challenges ahead. Continue Reading

The Deccan Chargers after winning IPL '09 trophy

The last two ranked in the last IPL clashed in the Finals in the second edition with bottom ranked of the two hitting the top spot and the top two teams of 2008 failed to make the last four stage in 2009. Deccan Chargers, under the command of vintage Adam Gilchrist overcame the challenge of Royal Challengers of Bangalore.

Defending a total three less than what Bangalore chased easily in the semi-final, Deccan came out pumped, their energy reflecting in their behaviour. Symonds shadowed the latest tyro, Manish Pandey, all the way from the dugout to the crease. Pandey was a marked man during his innings. Symonds followed him wherever he went, giving him lip. Ryan Harris matched the aggression with the ball, clocking 145kmph constantly in the first over, a maiden. Continue Reading

Sonia and Manmohan

Manmohan Singh was on Tuesday renominated as Congress Parliamentary Party leader by party chief Sonia Gandhi to head the new Government.

Gandhi named 76-year-old Singh as the CPP leader to lead the Government at a CPP meeting in the Central Hall of Parliament and this was unanimously approved by the members amid thumping of desks.

Fresh from the spectacular victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the meeting saw Gandhi, who was re-elected the CPP chairperson, telling Congress workers to put the party before self, remain disciplined and united to emerge even stronger in the future. Continue Reading

Photo of LTTE chief Prabhakaran's body circulated by Sri Lankan TV

Sri Lankan troops recovered the body of slain rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Tuesday, a day after he was killed in the Tamil Tigers’ last stand against government forces in the north, the military said.

Footage broadcast on the private Swarnawahini television station showed a body that appeared to be the rebel leader, still dressed in his dark green camouflage uniform, laid out on the grass as soldiers stood nearby. A blue cloth covered the top of his head, apparently to cover a bullet wound there. His open eyes stared straight up and his face appeared bloated. Continue Reading

The Westmead house where Singhalese student were attacked on Sunday

As we passed by Alexendria Avenue in Westmead onMonday afternoon, we witnessed a huge police possee had surrounded a home and investigating the scene of a violent attack on some Sri Lankan students a night before. It is reported in Australian Media that at least five men forced their way into the Sinhalese students’ home in Alexandra Avenue at Westmead about midnight (AEST) on Sunday, report IST and agencies

They threw acid over a 22-year-old man, identified only as Jayasiri, leaving him severely burned and fighting for his life in Concord Hospital in an induced coma. They also doused 27-year-old Chathuika Weerasinghe in acid before stabbing him in the abdomen and breaking his ankle. Continue Reading