Racist attacks in Australia halve Indian traders business in past year

MELBOURNE - Indians in Australia are afraid to leave their homes at night leading to decline in earnings of traders by up to half in the past 12 months in the western suburbs.

They say their customers are too scared to come out after dark in the wake of a series of attacks on young Indian students, including the stabbing murder of Nitin Garg in Yarraville earlier this month.

Mohammad Sadid Reza, the owner of Deshi Hut, an Indian supermarket in Sunshine, said that a year ago he was making about 1200 dollars a day; now it is about 600 dollars.

“We are open late at night, when many Indian students used to do their shopping. Now, after the bashings, they are too scared to come out at night,” The Age quoted him, as saying.

Reza said he and his staff were often sworn at and racially abused by people walking past.

Trade has also dropped at Indian supermarket Sugar Spices, where owner Ashraf Muhammad says profits fell by 30 per cent in the past year.

Jim Kumar and his family own Apna Punjab, an Indian restaurant. He said business had declined in the past six weeks.

Sunny King, 23, who has just finished a university course, says he has to walk or take public transport to get around. He says he no longer walks the streets of Sunshine after 7 p.m.

King used to shop for groceries at night because he was at school during the day.

“I just stopped doing it. We don’t feel safe coming out at night. I’ve never been attacked, but I’ve been sworn at by groups at Sunshine railway station.” (ANI)