Indian student beaten up in Australia

An Indian student was attacked and beaten till he fell unconscious by a gang in Melbourne's Central Business District in broad daylight, a local television channel reported on Tuesday.

According to a news channel, Rajat Tyagi, a trainee pilot, was confronted as he left his apartment in Flinders Street on Sunday morning by five men.

Tyagi, who hails from Delhi, said the gang surrounded him and beat him till he fell unconscious.

"I want to go home as soon as possible because we are not safe here. They hit me twice in the mouth, and my whole lips were hanging down. I just lost my tooth. I don't know where my tooth is, maybe in my stomach, maybe on the floor. I can't find it," he said.

"I can't eat anything, I can't drink anything and my room mates are feeding me milk so I can live," he said.

Rajat hopes that the incident was captured on CCTV. He said he has heard no more from the police since they arrived half-an-hour after the assault, and told him he was one of several similar assaults that night.

Rajat is now unable to appear for his flying exams because of the bashing, the channel reported. In a statement, the police said they were told the victim was with a male friend at Flinders Street station at around 6.40 am.

"An argument had taken place between the victim, his friend and approximately five males perceived as being of African appearance. The argument did not escalate and all parties walked away," it said.

"The victim walked across to the other side of Flinders Street while his friend bought a train ticket," it said.

"It was then alleged that the victim was again approached by five males who pulled up beside him in a vehicle described as a red/burgundy coloured Daihatsu sedan. One male allegedly jumped out of the car and punched the victim once to the face, leaving him with a lost tooth and a busted lip," the police said.

"The group of attackers are described to be in their early 20s and perceived to be of African appearance," the statement added.

Over 100 attacks against Indian students were reported in Australia in 2009.