The Indian consulate in Melbourne was targeted after it was vandalised by unknown miscreants on Thursday, officials said, forcing Indian authorities to raise the issue with their Australian counterpart.

According to reports, graffiti was found at the front entrance of the diplomatic building located at 344 St Kilda Road in Melbourne.

Victoria Police confirmed to The Australia Today that officers attended the site on the morning of April 10 following reports of graffiti on the building.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers believe the front entry of the building was graffitied overnight, sometime between Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 April. An investigation into the damage remains ongoing.”

Indian Embassy Confirms Attack

The Indian Embassy in Australia said all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the country.

In an X post, the Embassy said: " The incident of defacing at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne by miscreants has been raised with Australian authorities. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the country."

Hindu Temples Attacked Last Year

Last year, two Hindu temples were targeted by masked attackers in  Canberra city of Australia.

Attackers reportedly barged into the temples and vandalised them.

In another incident in 2023, Khalistani flags were seen tied to the Indian Consulate in Brisbane.

The incident happened just days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Australia.

In recent months, Victoria Police and the State Government have pledged to crack down on hate-based crimes and vandalism, particularly those targeting faith-based institutions, reported The Australia Today.

The Indian-Australian community has often voiced their concerns over the slow response to such incidents in comparison to similar events involving people belonging to other communities.

“This is not about politics,” one community member told the news portal.