May 31st in Melbourne, the relatively tranquil Sunday afternoon, gave way to the roar of thousands of rallying Indian students. Their cause, to seek justice for recent physical assaults towards Indian students in Australia, the latest of which, was the alleged racially motivated stabbing of Indian student Sravan Kumar at a weekend party.

"Victoria police have to do something."

"We need the justice, like punishing the guys who attacked the Indians, that's what we want."

Holding banners and shouting "Shame shame Victoria police" and "We want justice", the sea of charged bodies had no shortage of vocal members expressing their frustration.

[Noel Fernandes, Indian Student]:
"I come back late at night, at 12 o'clock in night, I have to call my friends up, come to pick me up at the station, why?, why can't I walk freely!?"

[Prabhakar Agraja, Educational Consultant]:
"People reacted and they've accumulated, they formed a unity, they want some justice now."

Within an hour of arriving at Flinders Street, the demonstrators had completely blocked passage through one of the city's main intersections.

[Lawrence Rowland, Melbourne Resident]:
"I was shocked to see so many people gathering together."

Police were later called in to clear the intersection, where 18 people were taken into custody for breach of the peace, 1 man was arrested for assault, and a police officer was bitten on the hand.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland, stated that there is no place for racism in this community, and asked the Indian students to continue working with the police.

Robert Apicella, NTD Melbourne Australia
Robert Apicella