EXTRA police must continue to patrol the "troubled areas" of Sydney where a pattern of anti-Indian violence exists, the Indian Foreign Minister, V.S.Krishna, says.

He made the call after meeting Indian students in Sydney yesterday to hear their problems and discuss their safety. He will have similar meetings in Melbourne on Sunday and Monday.

Mr Krishna also spent some hours with the NSW Premier, Nathan Rees, and senior police including the deputy commissioner Dave Owens yesterday.

Mr Krishna said authorities had to ensure the safety of overseas students in troubled areas by maintaining the higher police presence. He was told by police that patrols had been increased at Harris Park and several other suburbs since the first reports of violence against students two months ago.

Several other issues were raised, including better lighting of areas where attacks were common and a permanent involvement by police in student orientation and community activities.

Relations between Australia and India will remain under scrutiny today , when Mr Krishna is expected to meet the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, at the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns.

Greater regulation of educational institutions and the activities of immigration and education agents will be a main topic of conversation.

Mr Krishna said tougher regulations were needed in Australia and India to prevent the misery being experienced by students. "Unfortunately, there are a number of dubious educational institutions encouraging students to take out big loans to finance their education.

"There is inadequate information to support students when they are given promises by unscrupulous education and immigration agents."

Australia's $15.5 billion export education industry has come under fire following violent attacks on international students, but more recently over claims that students are being exploited by unscrupulous private college operators.

Last week the Sydney campus of Sterling College closed, forcing about 500 mainly Indian students to find alternative study arrangements with the help of the Australian Council of Private Education and Training.

Earlier this year the council had to help find course places for students from the failed Melbourne International College.

A Sterling College student, Shashi Ray, met Mr Krishna yesterday. "There are a lot more colleges in Sydney and Melbourne on the verge of closing down," he said.