By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: The family of Mir Kazim Ali Khan, the latest victim of racist violence in Australia, is in a state of shock since they heard about last evening’s attack in the suburbs of Melbourne.
The news of attack on Kazim came at a time when the family was already worried over the spate of racist attacks on Indians in Australia over the last few weeks.
Twenty year old Kazim, a student of Hospitality Management in Melbourne, has been away from home for the last one and a half years.
Since they heard about the attack on Kazim by two hooded men, the family members are anxiously waiting for phone calls from Australia to know more about his condition.
“We have already seen his photographs emailed to us by his friends and he seems to be conscious and talking”, said Raza Ali Khan, brother of Kazim. On hearing the news, several people gathered at the family’s home in Mir Chowk area of the old city.
The area legislator Syed Ahmad Pasha Quadri also visited the home and spoke to the family.
“We came to know of the attack last evening and I have been in touch with Kazim’s friends who are looking after him”, said Raza. According to the family Kazim received injuries on the forehead and other parts of the body.His nose was also fractured.
“It has come as a big shock to all of us. I appeal to the Indian government to do something and stop this violence against our people. I am worried not only about my brother but all Indian students. They are also like brothers to me”, said Raza Ali Khan.
Kazim’s father Syed Ali Khan, retired government employee, is in hospital due to heart ailment. He has not been told about the incident yet.
Kazim is the second student from Andhra Pradesh to be targeted by racists in Australia. Earlier, Shravan Kumar from Khammam district was seriously injured in an attack by four youths in Melbourne.
Shravan, a student of Automobile Engineering, was admitted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition. However, now he is slowly recovering.
The government of Andhra Pradesh announced financial assistance of Rs half a million to Shravan’s family for his treatment in Australia and to enable a family member to stay there. Shravan, who was in coma for a few days, has recovered to the extent that he was able to undertake walks for a short distance.
There has been a series of racist attacks on Indian students in Australia, despite the protests by the government of India and the community of Indian students in the host country.
The matter is now before the Indian Supreme Court which has issued a notice to the Indian government seeking the details of the action it had taken on the issue.