THE president of the Indian Australian Association of South Australia has called for calm in the wake of the bashing of a Sikh student in Rundle Mall.

The victim yesterday was recovering from the assault. He has a hairline fracture to his jaw and a broken rib, association president Vikram Madan said.

His alleged attacker, a male, 17, from Craigmore, was arrested early yesterday. Police, however, would not reveal if their investigation was finalised.

Mr Madan, who spoke to the victim about the ordeal, said that, while there were racial undertones to the incident, other factors may have sparked the attack.

"My message to the young people is to try and maintain calm," Mr Madan said.

"This isn't really a reflection of what is happening in Victoria and New South Wales."

Mr Madan said the bashing was a "one-off incident" and the victim "happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time". He said, however, there remains genuine concern about racial attacks against the Indian community in South Australia.

"The students are definitely scared," he said.

Mr Madan yesterday met chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, Lieutenant Governor Hieu Van Le, to voice the community's concerns.

Indian students gathered at Rundle Mall yesterday said they were fearing for their safety.

Nandeep Singh, 25, Harpreet Singh, 25, Jaspreet Singh, 23, and Jaspreet Singh, 21, came to Adelaide from India last year and are all studying at Cambridge International College in the city.

"There is a trend developing," Nandeep Singh said.

"There have been heaps of incidents in Sydney and Melbourne, and a few weeks ago a friend of ours got his throat cut in a taxi (in Adelaide)," he said.

He said the spate of incidents across the country had sparked concern from parents living in India.

"My parents have been calling me every day to check I am OK," he said. "Some parents are even saying their kids should come back (to India)."

The group also said that further incidents would have a detrimental affect on Australia's ability to attract international students.