Melbourne: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday said, violence in Australian cities against students, including Indians, was "regrettable part" of urban life but warned against vigilante action, saying such acts as equally unwelcome.
"It's unacceptable for anyone to commit an act of violence against any student of any ethnicity anywhere in Australia," Rudd said.
He said while violence in all Australian cities was "a regrettable part" of urban life, vigilante action was equally unwelcome.
Rudd's remarks came close in the heels of the first act of retaliation by the Indian community here following racial attacks on them.
Indian students have also formed groups to protect students from racial attacks at St Albans and Thomastown railway stations in Melbourne's west after a spate of assaults on the community members in the area.
"This is one of the safest countries in the world for international students," Rudd said.
"Some of the attacks were clearly racist in motivation and that violence is unacceptable and racism is unacceptable in any form," Overland said, adding "We want to make it clear that everyone in Victoria is safe (and) protected as best we can."
Overland and Premier John Brumby visited St Albans railway station in Melbourne's west to announce a high-visibility operation targeting Sunshine, St Albans, Thomastown, Clayton and Dandenong.
Brumby said he wanted to reassure India and its Government that Indian students and visitors to Victoria would be safe.
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"Today's announcement is about saying whether you live here or whether you are a visitor here and studying here you will be safe," he said.
Mounted police, dog squads and helicopter patrols will be used to crack down on crime. The operation will include uniformed police, transit police, the dog squad, the mounted branch and helicopter patrols in and around train stations.
Overland said it was unfortunate that international students, particularly Indian students, had been caught up in the broader issue of street robberies.
"We have already been doing a lot of work to tackle the growing trend of street robberies over the past 18 months," Overland said.
"We have certainly not been sitting on our hands with this issue and this increased enforcement will further bolster our already concerted efforts. This is not something new but instead an enhanced approach" he added.
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