From the Hobart Merc:

Bashed by mob of ‘real Aussies’
LINDA SMITH
May 26, 2008

AN Indian student was bashed in a racially motivated attack on Hobart’s waterfront early yesterday.

Varun Khetarpal, 20, was left bleeding, bruised and frightened after being set upon by a group of up to 15 people outside the Observatory nightclub.

And worst of all he said the vicious attack was not isolated, with a culture of racism emerging in Hobart, especially in pubs and clubs.

Mr Khetarpal, who has been studying hotel management at TAFE in Hobart for the past 18 months, was celebrating a friend’s birthday on Saturday night.

He went to the friend’s place for drinks at 8pm and later went to the Observatory.

Mr Khetarpal, of Sandy Bay, stopped drinking just after midnight and said by 4am he felt sober and ready to go home.

He left the nightclub with a friend about 4.30 and they headed towards the taxi rank outside Isobar when the group began to taunt them with racial comments.

The ringleader took off his shirt and then headbutted Mr Khetarpal and hit him repeatedly while another group member held his arms behind his back so he couldn’t defend himself.

Other members of the group continued to yell racial taunts during the attack, which Mr Khetarpal said lasted for a few minutes.

“They were saying f… off, you don’t belong here, you’re not a real Australian, go home,” Mr Khetarpal said.

“They said ‘go look at yourself in the mirror and you will see the difference’.”

Mr Khetarpal’s friend waved down a passing police car but by then the offenders had fled.

Mr Khetarpal had a bloodied nose and lips and his face was so swollen he could barely speak.

He was treated at the Royal Hobart Hospital’s emergency department yesterday and doctors said he was fortunate his jaw was not broken in the attack.

Mr Khetarpal, who is president of the Indian Youth Society in Hobart, said racist attacks like this were not uncommon.

He said he knew of at least three other people who had been bashed in recent months, including one attack in Franklin Square.

“We hear racial comments most times that we go out on Friday or Saturday nights,” Mr Khetarpal said.

“I’ve been to most places in Australia and I chose to study in Tasmania because it’s peaceful, there are no distractions and I thought there was no racism.

“I like being here and generally I am well accepted, but a few people make it really hard at times.”

He said he and his friends tried to ignore the comments, but it was still frustrating and he wanted people to be more accepting.

“I was with a Chinese friend the other day and someone made racial comments to him,” Mr Khetarpal said.

“I believe in multiculturalism and I think everyone should be able to get along.”