Australians claim India not safe for them
By ANISunday, January 17, 2010
MELBOURNE - In what is expected to intensify the tension between India and Australia, the family of an Australian man, who was found dead in India last year, has said that a growing number of foreign tourists are being murdered and there crimes are covered up by authorities there.
Last June, Melbourne disability pensioner Michael Osborne was found dead in a guest house near the city of Patna with his bank account empty and most of his belongings gone less than three weeks into a dream visit to India.
His brother Laurie believes he was beaten to death, but Indian and Australian authorities, according to him, appeared to have closed the book on the case.
“We want to warn Australians going over to India that they are in danger. Especially if they are going by themselves,” News.com.au quoted Laurie, as saying.
“Indians jump up and down and say that Australians are attacking Indians but look at what they are doing to Australians,” he added.
According to the Tourist Justice and Safety in India group, set up by families of murder victims, at least 10 Australians have been murdered or feared murdered in violent attacks in India since 1999.
The families of dead Australians say the subcontinent nation is hypocritical in attacking Victorian authorities and are calling for an investigation by the Rudd Government.
The reaction of the families comes as the Indian media has painted Melbourne as a racist city and condemned a string of violent attacks against Indian students. (ANI)
