New Delhi concerned over attacks on Indians in Australia

An Indian official has expressed serious concern about yet another attack on an Indian citizen in Australia, calling it a "very serious matter."

"Certainly, this matter of attacks on people of Indian origin in Australia is a very serious matter and the government of India is very concerned over this matter," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters on Monday in Bangalore, the capital of the southern state of Karnataka.

A 22-year-old Sikh was punched in the head by a group of Australians who also removed his turban while he was sleeping at a bus stop in Melbourne on Sunday.

"The matter has been taken up at the highest level with the Australian side," Prakash said, adding that measures have to be taken to put an end to these racist incidents.

He went on to say that Australia had assured India twice that it will follow the "policy of zero tolerance" - first after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier this year spoken to his Australian counterpart and then when Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna visited the country in August.

But although Australia has taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of foreigners, the attacks against Indians continue.

Over 250,000 people of Indian origin live in Australia and 90,000 Indian students are studying in the country.