A day after African nationals were attacked in Delhi, the Government swung into action on Sunday even as the Delhi Police arrested five people and detained four others for questioning in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, the Minister of External Affairs and senior MEA officials tried to pacify the agitated foreigners and their ambassadors.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi’s lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung to discuss the attack on African nationals. Upset with the second incident of violence against African nationals in Delhi in less than one month, Swaraj sought immediate arrest of the culprits and a sensitisation campaign in areas where African nationals reside. Swaraj also asked Minister of State VK Singh and senior MEA officer Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations) who also handles Africa, to meet the victims and reassure them about their safety.
“I have spoken to Rajnath Singh and lt-Governor Delhi reg attack on African nationals in South Delhi yesterday. They assured me that the culprits will be arrested soon and sensitisation campaign will be launched in areas where African nationals reside,” Swaraj tweeted. “I have asked Gen VK Singh, MoS and Secretary Amar Sinha to meet African students who have announced demonstration at Jantar Mantar,” she said in another tweet.
Talking about the incidents in South Delhi’s Mehrauli in which six Africans were injured, DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said, “Five accused identified as Babu, Om Prakash, Ajay and Rahul have been arrested and four accused including a minor, have been detained on charges of causing hurt and wrongful confinement.”
The Delhi Police, however, attributed the two incidents to a dispute over African nationals playing loud music and the other to a scuffle over public drinking.
The police denied rods or bats were used in the assaults, saying the nature of injuries would have been different then. However, it acknowledged one woman sustained an injury on her nose. The Delhi Police termed these as isolated incidents and not “organised attacks”.
The incident took place in less than a week when the Government assured envoys of African countries on safety of African nationals. The envoys had on Wednesday expressed shock over killing of Oliver here last week and urged the Government to postpone the ICCR-organised Africa Day event in the wake of regular violence against their students.
On Sunday, terming the recent attacks as racial, the African ambassadors sought direct intervention from the Indian Government and urged for a crackdown on the perpetrators.
The African students are now planning demonstrations on Tuesday at Jantar Mantar seeking action against the guilty and to protest against violence against them. MEA officer Amar Sinha has been in regular touch with the African community and envoys following the attacks.
VK Singh, however, after visiting the locality where incident took place, termed it as a minor scuffle and blamed media for blowing the attack incident out of proportion. “Had detailed discussion with Delhi Police and found that media blowing up minor scuffle as attack on African nationals in Rajpur Khurd…Why is media doing thisIJ As responsible citizens let us question them and their motives,” Singh tweeted. Of course, some of the mediapersons responded to him saying why make media scapegoat instead of focusing on safety and security of people. Congress leader and former Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid too criticised Singh’s statement saying the MoS should be careful with his words.
Sources in the Government said a round of sensitisation drive happened on Sunday with VK Singh meeting community members in Chhatarpur and the Centre is pursuing the matter with Delhi Police to ensure all culprits are apprehended. The Home Minister has asked police to step up patrolling in areas having presence of African nationals.
Rajnath Singh condemned the attack and called Delhi Police chief Alok Kumar Verma to his residence to express concern and discuss safety of foreign nationals, particularly Africans. “Spoke to 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.
Since Saturday, police held several meetings with various resident associations in the area. Addressing one such gathering, DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said: “They have come to our country, are our guests, friends. They have come here just because they trust us. The way you behave with them will have repercussions on our brothers living outside. An example is the way Indians were attacked after the murder of a Congolese youth,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Government has decided to transport the Congolese national’s mortal remains to Kinshasa. Masunda Kitanda Oliver died following an attack on him recently by criminals in Delhi. “In the unfortunate death of Mr Masunda Oliver, the Government will assist his family to travel to India to receive his mortal remains. We will also arrange for his mortal remains to be transported to DR Congo at our expense,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.