5 arrested for attacks on Africans

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 29

Five person have been arrested in connection with four incidents of assault on African nationals in the south Delhi’s Mehrauli area on May 27, the police said today.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had directed the police to take strict action against the attackers and step up patrolling in areas inhabited by Africans.

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Prior to that, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that she had spoken to the Home Minister and Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung over the incident, telling them to ensure security of African nationals. She said a sensitisation campaign would be carried out in areas inhabited by African nationals.

Those arrested were Babu (32) and Om Prakash (24), both residents of Rajpur Khurd, Kunal (20), Rahul, alias Rocky, (24) and Ajay (25), residents of Maidan Garhi.

“Five persons have been arrested and efforts are on to arrest the remaining accused,” said Ishwar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South district).

The police said four more persons had been detained and were being interrogated in connection with the incidents, which came close on the heels of killing of a Congolese national, Masunda Kitanda Oliver. His death had triggered angry reaction by African countries. Their envoys unitedly threatened to boycott the Africa Day celebrations of the Indian Government last week, before they were persuaded against it.

Two women—one from Uganda and the other from South Africa—and two Nigerian men had filed complaints of physical assault and criminal intimidation in relation to the fresh attacks.

The police said one case related to a dispute over African nationals playing loud music and the other to a scuffle over public drinking. The police denied that rods or bats were used in the assaults, while claiming the nature of injuries would have been different then. One African woman had sustained an injury on her nose.

The Home Minister condemned the attack and called the Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma to his residence to express concern over the attacks.

“Spoke to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, regarding the incidents of physical assault against certain African nationals. Such incidents are condemnable,” Singh tweeted.

“Instructed CP Delhi to take strict action against the attackers and increase patrolling in these areas to ensure security of everyone,” he said in another tweet.

Swaraj also tweeted, “I have spoken to Rajnath Singh and Lt Governor Delhi reg(arding) attack on African nationals in South Delhi yesterday. They assured me that the culprits will be arrested soon and a sensitisation campaign will be launched in areas where African nationals reside.

VK Singh, meanwhile, claimed that the attack on African nationals was a “minor scuffle” which the media was “blowing up” and questioned its motives.