In yet another racial attack on Indians in Australia, a 22-year-old student was allegedly assaulted by a teenager in Adelaide after making "rude" comments about his turban.

Police said the student suffered a broken nose in the assault in Adelaide's busy market area of Rundle Mall yesterday and that they have arrested a 17-year-old youth in this connection.

They said the attacker has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court.

The attack comes after Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney have held series of rallies over violent attacks and repeated calls for an inquiry into racial attacks against them.

Local media quoted the victim, who requested anonymity, as saying that the attacker started a confrontation by making "rude comments" about his turban.

In another incident, Pakistani student Yasir Raja, 26, believes his Holden Commodore was torched because of its "Raja" number plate.

Raja said friends living in the Enfield area had increased security around their homes in fear of racist attacks.