Indian Ethnic Violence Breaks Out in Melbourne

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11689339/Indian-brawl-erupts-Melbournes-Fed-Square-Sikh-attacking-Hindu-nationalists.html

The heart of Melbourne became an unlikely battleground for Indian ethnic violence when Sikh separatists chanting 'death to India' rushed pro-India supporters and attacked them with flag poles.

[video width=480 height=380]

https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2023/01/29/6553228829652962700/640x360_MP4_6553228829652962700.mp4

Confronting footage shows about 100 people brawling after a group of nationalist Hindus arrived at Federation Square - voting site for a non-binding referendum on the creation of an independent Sikh state, Khalistan - on Sunday about 4.30pm.

One man had to be treated for a serious laceration to the head while another suffered a hand injury in the chaos.

Police later confirmed they used pepper-spray on 10 people involved in the melee with one man taken away in handcuffs.

'To witness a clash from the other side of the street is horrific,' one man posted to Twitter.

'To see the police unable to quell the tension is a concern. A very scary afternoon to be an Indian in Melbourne.'

Victoria Police also noted there was an earlier altercation near the voting site, at around 12.30pm.

'As a result of each incident a 34-year-old man and a 39-year-old man were arrested, and each issued with a penalty notice for riotous behaviour,' police said.

'Melbourne East Neighbourhood Policing Team are continuing to investigate after it was identified two men, one with a laceration to their head and another with a hand injury, were injured.

'The pair were treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics for what was believed to be minor injuries.