The period between the years 2005 to 2009 in Australia, saw brutal attacks on international students, especially those of Indian origin. A recent study has concluded that the attacks were of a criminal nature rather than racial, which many do not agree with.

The study gives a comparative data of attacks and concludes that Australians and international students are equally vulnerable to attacks. The only reason that the report shows more attacks on Indian students rather than Chinese, Koreans or students of any other nationality, was that Indian students worked in high-crime areas and drew attention from unsocial elements.

The first victim of the attack was Sravan Kumar Theerthala who was stabbed in the head with a screw driver without provocation by some unidentified party-crashers. After this attack, a series of targeted crimes took place. Indians living in Australia have told the authorities that some groups are thriving who have given a name to such attacks – curry bashing.

There was widespread outrage in the Indian student community in Australia in response to this wave of attacks on Indian students. Organization representing Indian students clearly started that the attacks were planned, targeted and racist in nature. This was also concluded from the testimony given by the students who were the victims of those attacks.

Therefore, racial or not, these attacks have surely dented the image of Australia as a one of the best and safest destinations to study.