India protests, summons Aussie envoy over racist email (Roundup)

NEW DELHI - India Saturday expressed anger over a racist email the police made in Australia’s Victoria state, even as Australia condemned it as offensive and unacceptable.

The union ministry of external affairs had summoned Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese and handed over a demarche Saturday morning, after Australian media reported that Victoria police officers had been caught joking in an email about the electrocution of a train passenger in India.

The officers circulated video footage of the death of a man who was travelling on the roof of a crowded train in India and suggested it could be a way to fix Melbourne’s Indian students’ problem, according to a report in the Herald Sun.

“It was conveyed to him (Australian high commissioner) that such an entrenched bias among sections of law enforcers towards the Indian community is a matter of serious concern,” said a statement issued by the external affairs ministry.

“Such behaviour and attitudes have no place in any society,” it added.

Varghese was conveyed the Indian government’s concerns by Vijaya Latha Reddy, the ministry’s secretary (east).

India “hoped” that Australia would take “necessary and effective measures to address concerns regarding the safety of all people of Indian origin in Australia”.

According to the statement, the high commissioner told Indian officials that Australia also condemned the incident. He also handed over copies of the statements already made by the premier of Victoria and the chief commissioner of the Victoria Police in this regard.

In a separate statement, Varghese told reporters outside South Block that the incident has been “condemned in the strongest possible terms”.

“This is an email which is offensive and unacceptable,” he said, adding that it was “completely contrary to the principles of respect and tolerance which underpinned Australian society.

He added it was “very unfortunate that this incident has detracted from the number of positive steps taken by Victorian police”, including the setting up of a round-the-clock help centre for Indians.

Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said the emails were “disturbing, offensive and gross”.

Premier John Brumby Friday criticised the circulation of the racist material.

“This is completely offensive and contrary to the views and values at the heart of the Victorian community - tolerance and respect,” he was quoted as saying.

Federation of Indian Students spokesman Gautam Gupta said: “It is outrageous that police officers would joke about the death of anyone. I am really shocked. This is humour in very, very bad taste.”

The newspaper said some of the force’s highest-ranked officers have been implicated in the scandal, which also involves circulation of pornographic material.

Three superintendents were nabbed during an investigation into the circulation of inappropriate emails through the police computer system. Several inspectors have also been caught.