By Alesha Capone
Police are investigating an assault which occurred on a bus in Werribee last month, in which racist threats were allegedly made towards the victim.
Transit Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the assault, which left a 42-year-old Hoppers Crossing woman with minor injuries.
Investigators have been told the woman was assaulted as she got off a bus at the intersection of Derrimut Road and Heath Road on May 27, around 5.25pm.
SBS Punjabi radio interviewed the victim, who said that she was waiting – with a friend – for a bus, when a group of young men and women started to verbally harass them.
“They made us uncomfortable with their rude and abusive behaviour,” the woman told SBS Punjabi.
“They hurled racist comments and made rude gestures.
“They yelled racist things like, F*** off you Indians, go back where you came from. You smell s***.”
One of the youths spat at the woman and her friend as they boarded the bus.
After getting on the bus, one of the female youths allegedly threw a cold drink into the woman’s face.
The group of youths continued verbally harassing the woman and her friend, before she was allegedly punched and kicked to the head and torso.
“My nose was bleeding, and my T-shirt was drenched in blood,” the woman told SBS Punjabi.
After the offenders fled the scene, the woman asked the bus driver to call police.
She said another bus passenger also assisted her, and gave a statement to police.
In a separate incident, police have cautioned a 17-year-old boy after an assault in Point Cook on June 4.
Investigators have been told the teenager was involved in an argument with a 33-year-old man in Main Street, before the situation escalated and the older male was assaulted.
The 17-year-old boy was interviewed by police and issued with a Children’s Caution on June 12.
Anyone with information about the May 27 assault is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report anonymously online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
