KERALITE INJURED IN OZ RACIST ATTACK

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, a week after a Catholic priest of Indian heritage was stabbed in the neck at a church in Melbourne.

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 at the McDonald’s restaurant at North Hobart.

Mr Joy, 33, who hails from Puthuppally in Kottayam district, said that the incident took place when he went to the restaurant for a coffee while returning home from a trip. He alleged that the five accused were arguing with a worker inside the store but turned their attention to him the moment they noticed his entry.

When others in the restaurant telephoned police, the attackers left, but they returned later and assaulted him again.

Melbourne/Kottayam, March 26: An Indian man Li Max Joy 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, a week after a Catholic priest of Indian heritage was stabbed in the neck at a church in Melbourne.

Mr Joy was admitted to Royal Hobart Hospital with bleeding wounds. He was later discharged from hospital.

Mr Joy, who has been living in Hobart for the last eight years, was quoted as saying by Australian media that “the racial mood is definitely changing.”