Indians will skip Australia if attacks continue: Krishna

New Delhi: India has reacted strongly to the continued attacks on its citizens in Australia.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna virtually put Australia on notice on Wednesday warning that Indians will stop visiting the country if the attacks don't stop.

Krishna said that that students and tourists inflow into Australia from India would be adversely affected as a result of the ongoing attacks against them.

"I am deeply anguished by the continuous attacks on Indians in Australia. Unless this stops, education and tourism will be adversely affected," said Krishna.

The warning comes after yet another Indian taxi driver was assaulted by his passengers over the weekend.

The 25-year-old was attacked by a couple in Melbourne. The police have released the images of the attackers and asked for witnesses.

Five people stopped the cab driver at a hotel, asking the driver for a ride.

When he picked up only two, a man and a woman because of the car's capacity, he was punched and assaulted. He has received medical treatment for facial injuries.

Even former Australian military chief General Peter Cosgrove has rejected claims by Australian authorities that the attacks on Indians are purely criminal in nature. He said people from the sub-continent are being profiled, which is a worrying trend.

''If you didn't suspect a racial strand you'd be mad. Attacks recently by groups of people on individuals looks like a profiling approach to people from the sub-continent. Rather than say 'nothing to worry about', I'd rather look more closely. The problem for us is that the criminal incidents are cowardly and sly and it is easy to conclude that they are racially targeted," General Peter Cosgrove told The Age newspaper.

Moreover, Australian Police had realised two years back that there was a problem involving crime against Indians but they still remain in denial.

Victoria's Police Commissioner Simon Overland said that they have known for two years that Indian students were being targeted.

"There is no question, regardless of the motives, Indian students have to a degree been targeted in robberies and that is not okay. We have known for two years that there has been this issue and we have been working away at a number of levels around engaging with students, trying to make them understand the risks and how they keep themselves safe," said Overland.