16 June,2009 03:05 PM IST | | Agencies
At least 46 Indian students have fled Australia following a rise in the number of violent attacks against the community in the past month and many others are being asked by their worried parents to return home, the editor of a Melbourne-based magazine said today.
"Many students are being pressurised by their parents to return to India. Two universities here have decided not to admit Indian students and educational consultants are now faced with several cancellations by students from India who had secured admissions," said Thiruvallam Bhasi, editor of the Indian Student magazine.
Bhasi said two students from Kerala who were attacked had come to his home toay morning and said they were getting ready to leave. The students, Monish Nair and Gautam, were into their second year MBA programme at the Burwood campus of Deakin University in Melbourne.
Nair said that they were attacked by a group of Australians when they were returning to their home in Gillard Street near Melbourne May 23.
"The attack was uncalled for. We were kicked and punched. We filed a case with the police and their attitude made us even more sad. They said it is best not to pursue the case because we are students and there could be problems," he said.
"When we told our parents about the incident they asked us to return. I will fly out early next month, while Gautam is returning home at the end of this week," he added.
A two year MBA programme in Australia costs about Australian $60,000 (Rs.2.5 million).
"We are losing a lot of money because we have paid virtually the entire fees and we have one full semester to go. But enough is enough. Our parents are worried and they want us to return," said Nair.
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