Melbourne, Oct 26 (IANS) A 22-year-old Indian man was punched and had his turban removed in this Australian city as he slept at a bus stop.

The police are investigating the unprovoked bashing of the Indian man in Epping who was "punched in the head and had his turban removed" early Sunday, The Age reported Monday.

The victim was asleep at a stop near Epping railway station in Cooper Street about 12.45 a.m. when a bus pulled into the depot. Five youths, believed to be between 17 and 19, approached him.

Two of the five youths allegedly bashed the Indian man, while their three companions are believed to have tried to stop the assault, the media report said.

The bus driver, 60, and a passenger, 39, also tried to stop the attack. All five youths then ran away.

The victim suffered injuries to his mouth.

There has been a string of attacks on Indians in Australia, causing an uproar in India.

Sourabh Sharma was attacked on a train May 9 while Shravan Kumar was viciously stabbed with a screwdriver May 23.

Canberra has assured New Delhi that the Indian students would be taken care of.