Police broke up two brawls between crowds voting in a non-binding referendum focused on the future of India's borders and the establishment of a new state.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The referendum for Indian expats in Australia was whether Indian-governed Punjab should be an independent country, to be known as Khalistan.
The referendum was held by the Punjab Referendum Commission in Melbourne's Federation Square on Sunday January 29.
Police responded to two incidents throughout the day, one at 12.45pm and another at 4.30pm AEDT.
Police said they responded quickly to "separate and disperse the crowd" with police using pepper spray in the second incident "to separate the fighting men".
"As a result of each incident a 34-year-old man and a 39-year-old man were arrested, and each issued with a penalty notice for riotous behaviour," Victoria Police told ACM.
Two men were treated for minor injuries by paramedics on scene.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Throughout the day, voting queues snaked around Federation Square with bright yellow and blue Khalistan flags in the hands of many peaceful supporters.
The referendum, championed by US-based group Sikhs for Justice, seeks to redraw state boundaries in India's northwest.