4 AUSTRALIAN POLICE OFFICERS SACKED OVER RACIST EMAILS

MELBOURNE, - Four Australian police officers were sacked and disciplinary action initiated against 15 others over the circulation of emails mocking a video showing an Indian man getting electrocuted while riding on the roof of a train in India, the Press Trust of India reported on Sunday.

In addition to the four officers who have been sacked, one has been demoted, another five have been fined up to A$3000 and placed on 12-month good behaviour bonds for their involvement in the case.

• Nine officers will meet the disciplinary panel on October 12 and October 15, with six to be heard the following week, PTI reported quoting the Herald Sun.
• According to reports, two officers have already quit rather than facing the secret hearings.
• In the emails, the Victoria police officers were caught joking about the electrocution and suggesting that it could be “a way to fix the Indian student problem" in Melbourne.
• Victoria police said that it would resume disciplinary hearings this week into the circulation of pornographic and racist emails within the force.
• The newspaper said it was also discovered that some of the force's highest-ranked officers have been implicated in the scandal, which also involves pornographic material.
• Peter Varghese, Australia's High Commissioner in New Delhi, was summoned by the Indian Foreign Office to explain the reports after the scandal became public.
• The incident has raised fresh concerns after Indian students faced a series of racist attacks in Melbourne last year.
• Indian officials told Varghese that "such an entrenched bias among sections of law enforcers towards the Indian community is a matter of serious concern," The Age newspaper reported Sunday.

Varghese apologised to the Indian government and said Australia condemned the behaviour of the police officers.

Source: GN