Delhi police say attacks not racial, Africans in the city feel otherwise.
Shortly after home minister Rajnath Singh condemned the violence against African nationals in the capital, Delhi police on Sunday arrested five individuals, who were allegedly responsible for attacking six Africans on Thursday night.
Singh had called upon police commissioner Alok Kumar Verma and expressed his concern over the alleged hate crimes here. "Instructed CP Delhi to take strict action against the attackers & increase police patrolling in these areas to ensure security of everyone," Singh tweeted on Saturday night.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj responded to the situation and tweeted that she had taken up the issue with the Home Minister as well as Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, telling them to ensure the security of African nationals. Swaraj also said that a sensitisation campaign will be carried out in the areas where African nationals reside.
"I have spoken to Shri Rajnath Singh ji 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 sensitisation campaign will be launched in areas where African nationals reside.
"I have asked Gen VK Singh, MoS and Secretary Amar Sinha to meet# African students who have announce(d) demonstration at Jantar Mantar," she added in another tweet.
"Following a tip-off from local intelligence, five persons were arrested from various locations in and around the locality of the attack," said Ishwar Singh, deputy commissioner of police (South). Delhi police arrested Babu (32), Kunal (20), Om Prakash alias Choti (24), Rahul alias Rocky (24), and Ajay (25) on Sunday.
On Thursday night, six Africans, including a family with a four-year-old, were attacked in separate incidents in South Delhi's Mehrauli area. Reports on the attack followed close on the heels of an attack on Congolese national that has triggered mass condemnation from the African community here in Delhi. African delegation had unanimously threatened to boycott the Africa Day celebrations of the Indian government last week, before being persuaded against it.
Despite police officials denying the racial discrimination angle and minister of state for external affairs VK Singh's tweet, "Had detailed discussion with Delhi Police and found that media blowing up minor scuffle as attack on African nationals in Rajpur Khurd," African nationals in the city state otherwise.
Prince, 30, and Kevin Adams, 28, from Nigeria have been living in Delhi since the past three years. Studying computer application, the Nigerians stated that overall Indians were warm and welcoming, however, there are good and bad people everywhere. "I cannot be angry with everyone for the actions of a few. However, incidents of violence against us have increased in the past few years," Prince said. Residents of Chattarpur, the two Nigerians face daily racial slurs and insults. "I have been attacked thrice and beaten with cricket bats. Once, I was beaten up for as random a reason as buying an envelope," Prince added.
Hundreds of thousands of African nationals have been coming to the capital – largely to avail the education facilities here. Once here, they face rampant racism and discrimination. Discrimination is as basic as renting an apartment – the "black" African normally shells out three times the usual rate to rent an apartment, to hailing an auto – which will either overcharge them or not take them in roundabout routes and the women face sexual slurs. "It's very normal to be abused by the locals when we walk down the street," said Adams.
To voice their anguish over the lack of support and action, the Association of African Students in India (ASSI) have organised a protest march at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. "The African community and students want to show we are not safe here. Africans and students are not safe here and it is getting worse," said Michael Olivier. Olivier is cousin of MT Olivier – who was killed on May 20 by local youths over hiring an auto rickshaw in South Delhi's Kishangarh area. "We treat Indians in Africa with respect, I wonder why we are not treated the same," Olivier said.
The anguish of outsiders here in Delhi is not restricted to the Africans. It is extended to anybody who does not "look" Indian. Northeast Indians living in the capital can attest to the same racial discrimination suffered by the Africans. "I never knew how bad it could be here," said Prince. "I will not advise anybody in Nigeria to come here," he added.
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