Taking cognisance of a series of attacks on African nationals, the Delhi Police has appointed a Joint Commissioner-rank official as the nodal officer for attending issues concerning African people living in the city.

A senior official said Joint Commissioner of Police (South-Eastern Range) RP Upadhyay has been appointed the nodal officer on Monday entrusted with attending to and addressing issues concerning African nationals living in Delhi. Also, the Delhi Police will soon launch a helpline exclusively for lodging of complaints in connection with such incidents.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma met a delegation of African people living in the city and assured them of prompt redressal of their grievances. Verma also apprised them of various steps being taken by police for ensuring their safety and security in the city.

Under similar circumstances which had emerged after the Nido Tania incident in January 2014, a Joint Commissioner-rank official was appointed as the nodal officer for attending to issues concerning people of the north-eastern parts of the country living in the city.

Also, after a series of alleged attacks on Christian institutes in the city during 2014-15, the Delhi Police had appointed an Additional DCP-rank official as the nodal officer for attending to issues related to churches and educational institutions of the city.

“The Delhi Police has intensified patrolling in the area where African community is present. Various meetings with local communities, including RWAs/MWAs, were held all over Delhi in order to raise their awareness about the African nationals… They (people) were also briefed not to take law into their hands. Meetings were also held where people from African and Indian communities were present together to increase the level of understanding between them,” the Delhi Police said in a statement.