Lok Sabha Question No. 2191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Racial Attacks on Indians
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: K. C. VENUGOPAL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, M. B. RAJESH, BHARATENDRA SINGH, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2191 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## RACIAL ATTACKS ON INDIANS

2191. SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRI M.B. RAJESH: KUNWAR BHARATENDRA: DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether  hate  crimes  and  acts  of  bigotry  have  risen  notably against  Indians  in  various  countries  especially  in  America during  the  last  three  years  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, country-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government's  attention  is  drawn  to  a  incident where an Indian engineer was killed and two others injured in a recent attack in America and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)     whether  the  Government  has  taken  up  the  matter  with  the various Governments including the US to protect Indians from hate crimes and if so, the response of the various Governments in this regard;
- (d) the country-wise numbers of Indians killed/injured due to such hate crimes/racial attacks abroad during the last three years; and
- (e)     the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  Indians  from such crimes?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a), (b) & (d) There are no clear indications to suggest that hate crimes and acts of bigotry have risen in the last three years against Indians in various countries especially in America. However, incidents that occurred in the last three years in various countries including the US are given below:
- (i) An Indian was shot dead in an attempted robbery at Myrtel Beach, USA in January 2015.
- (ii) An Indian was injured due to use of force by the Police in Alabama, USA in February 2015.
- (iii) An  Indian  restaurant  owner  was  assaulted  on  14 December 2015 in Melbourne, Australia.
- (iv) A  13-year  old  Sikh  boy  was  assaulted,  mocked  and threatened on 03 March 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
- (v) Attack on the Head Granthi of the Essen Gurudwara, Germany in April 2016 resulting in injury and subsequent hospitalisation.
- (vi) & (vii) Attack on two students in Frankfurt, Germany - one in February 2015 and one in May 2016, resulting in minor injuries.
- (viii) An Indian student in Miami, USA was shot dead in a robbery attempt in June 2015.
- (ix) An Indian was  shot dead on 18 June 2016 by unidentified men at Macon, USA.
- (x) An Indian was shot and injured on 27 September 2016 at Savannah, USA.
- (xi) An  Indian  was  shot  dead  on  21  October  2016  at Mississippi, USA.
- (xii) An Indian was physically assaulted in Bethel Park in New York, USA on 22 November 2016.
- (xiii) & (xiv)  Two Indians were shot in Kansas (Texas), USA on 22 February 2017 resulting in tragic death of one Indian and another sustained injuries.
- (c) & (e) The safety and security of Indians abroad is among the top diplomatic priorities for the Government of India. Missions and Posts  remain  vigilant  and  closely  monitor  any  incident  of  attack against Indians. Such incidents are immediately taken up with the concerned  authorities  of  local,  State  and  Union  administration  as appropriate, to ensure that the cases are properly investigated and guilty punished. In the USA, the Government also engages with the US Congress for their support.

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