The Uttar Pradesh Police arrested five people in connection with Monday night’s attack on Nigerian students in Greater Noida even as the district administration refused to describe the incident as a hate crime, saying, “It happened in the spur of the moment, not pre-planned.”
Four Nigerian students were allegedly attacked by residents who took out a candle-light march for a 17-year-old boy who had died last week due to suspected drug overdose.
The protest march was taken out after police released some Nigerians detained for questioning in connection with the death of the Class 12 student, Manish Khari, in Greater Noida’s NSG Black Cats Enclave due to “lack of evidence”.
The boy’s parents had alleged that the foreigners who lived in their area had kidnapped him and given him drugs which caused his death.
The residents are now demanding that the Nigerians should be moved out of the city and alleged they were involved in drug racket and have spoiled the atmosphere as the local youth were getting addicted to drugs due to easy supply of narcotics allegedly by the Nigerians. Following the incident, DM NP Singh met the officials of the Nigerian High Commission.
He said that the administration is holding a meeting of local Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), colleges and Nigerian students’ representatives to maintain peace in the area.
NP Singh said India and Africa have old ties and local residents should understand this aspect. He condemned the assault on Nigerians by local residents. He said, “Nigerian students or other students from other countries are our guests”. Indian culture is ‘Atithi Devo Bhav’, the DM said adding “we should respect all foreign students. All countries have different cultures and dress and language”.
To prevent recurrence of such violent incidents, people from all classes of society in the city should come forward and create harmonious atmosphere and respect the culture and traditions of foreign students, he added. Greater Noida Superintendent of Police Sujata Singh said the protesters became violent during the march and started beating up the Africans they saw on the road.
“They also went to Ansal Mall and caused havoc and beat up Africans there. Police then rescued them and moved them to a safe place,” she said.
“Police had to use force and batons to dissuade people from attacking and arrested five people from the spot. Many of them who were there trying to play mischief have been identified as the entire event had been videographed. An FIR has been lodged against many people, five have been arrested and further investigation is on. Many are identified as well,” Daljit Chaudhary, Additional Director General of Police, (law & Order) said.
Three injured Nigerians were admitted to a nearby hospital.
The Greater Noida Superintendent of Police said the police had not yet given a clean chit to the Nigerian nationals accused by the victim’s parents.
The attack on the student inside a popular shopping mall in Noida was recorded on mobile phone cameras by other shoppers and widely circulated on social media.
One of the victims said he had been beaten with rods, bricks and knives. He said that no one had helped or even called the police.
Alkahba Solomon, a student in Noida, said that the situation was not “favourable for Nigerian students”.
“Everybody is indoors. But the problem we are having right now is some of the landlords are telling African students to vacate from their house. These are the problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Association of African Students of India has asked African students in Noida to stay at home and not to attend classes.
Meanwhile, UP Minister S Nath said, “Attack on Nigerian students is a serious issue. Proper probe will be done. Report will be provided to centre at earliest.”