Web Report
NEW DELHI — Six African nationals were attacked in Delhi on Thursday night in south Delhi’s Mehrauli area, a week after a Congolese national was beaten to death in the city. Two of them have alleged they were beaten with cricket bats. Police have said the attacks were “isolated incidents” not racist in nature, reported NDTV.
According to the police, the six nationals were injured in three separate incidents on Thursday night in Mehrauli, where around 300 African nationals live. Among the complainants are two women – one from Uganda and the other from South Africa – and at least two Nigerian men.
On May 20, a Congolese national Masonda Ketada Olivier, 29, was beaten to death after an argument over the hiring of an auto-rickshaw in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi. The government today said it will assist his family to travel to India to receive his mortal remains.
Condemning the attacks, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said he has spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi regarding.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted to say she had spoken with the Home Minister and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung about the attacks and was assured that the culprits would be arrested soon.
In protest against the attacks, African students plan to hold a demonstration in Delhi on Tuesday. Ms Swaraj said she has asked minister of state General VK Singh and Secretary Amar Sinha to meet the students.
One of the six injured in Thursday’s attacks is Nigerian national Kenneth Igbinosa, who is a local priest. He has said he was hit with a cricket bat by a group of men while he was returning home with his wife and four-month-old son.
Another Nigerian national, identified as 32-year-old Leuchy, claims he was on his way to a nearby church in an auto-rickshaw when a group of locals stopped it midway and attacked him with bats and a stone.
“They attacked me with bats and a stone, which caused a deep injury on my nose among other wounds. They kept thrashing me as I screamed for help asking them why they were doing so.” He also said that the group also vandalized his friend’s car which was parked on the same street.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ishwar Singh has said the attacks were “isolated incidents and not planned attacks. There was no element of racism in the attacks. It’s not as if there’s a public movement against African nationals.” He also added that the attacks happened at different locations (a kilometre apart), at different times and for different reasons.” He also said Leuchy received “minor injuries” on his nose when he fell on a stone on the road.