Mob of 1,000 attacked Africans in Noida: FIR

For Precious Amalcima, a 24-year-old law student from Nigeria, and his younger brother Endurance Amarawa, 21, a visit to a mall in Nodia turned out to be a nightmare. As they were walking in the mall, a mob rushed towards them. Before they could react, the two brothers were thrashed and sustained serious injuries to their heads, limbs and hands.

The due became a target of racial violence when more than 1,000 people came out on the streets of Greater Noida, around 40 km from the heart of the Capital on Monday, and attacked anyone who looked African.

The police have arrested seven people and have launched a massive manhunt for others who were involved in the violence. “There were more than 1,000 people on a witch-hunt for Africans,” the First Information Report (FIR) into the incident says.

Racial tensions had been brewing in the area for the past four days over allegations by local residents that a teenage student was drugged to death by some Africans. Five people were detained by the police but later let off as there was no evidence against them.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi had promised a “fair and impartial” probe.

“I have spoken to Adityanathji about (the) attack on African students in Greater Noida.

He has assured that there will be a fair and impartial investigation into this unfortunate incident,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Sushma Swaraj spoke to Yogi on Tuesday morning after an African student, Sadiq Bello, tweeted her to “act fast” as living in Noida, he said, was becoming a “life threatening issue” for Africans.

On Monday, several Africans staged a peaceful candle-light march in the memory of a local teenager, Manish Khari, who died last week in the NSG Society in Greater Noida due to suspected drug overdose. Sources said he suffered a cardiac arrest.

A mob attacked the Africans when they were staging the candle-light march, leaving several of them injured.

“I thought the mob would lynch us. We felt helpless. Instead of helping us, people stared at us as if we had done something wrong,” said Endurance Amarawa who, along with his brother, is in hospital.

“We rushed to one of the showrooms to be safe but the people refused to let us in and started pushing us out. The people caught hold of us and started attacking us with sticks, stools and trash cans,” he added.

Imran, a student of Noida International University, was looking for an auto-rickshaw near Pari chowk when he was attacked for no fault of his.

“I was coming from my sister’s house. All of a sudden, I heard racial remarks from a bunch of people heading towards me. They caught hold of me and started thrashing me,” he said.

This is not the first time Africans have become victims of racial attacks in the country. Last year, six Africans were thrashed in three separate incidents in Chhattarpur, in Delhi. A Congolese national was also beaten to death in the Capital.

There were incidents of racial violence in Bengaluru also where a Tanzanian student and her friends were attacked by a mob last year.

Fearing further violence against the African community, the government has stepped up security.

Around 200 additional police personnel have been deployed in all sectors of Greater Noida. Special instructions have been issued to secure residential societies with African population.

“We have already registered a case against 10 people out of which 7 have been arrested and three are still absconding. Another 300 unknown suspects have been figured out and we will be taking tough action against them,” said Sujata Singh, Superitendant of Police (Rural), Noida.

After the racial attacks on Monday, the African students living in Greater Noida say they face daily slurs and are living in fear over the last few days following the mysterious death of a local youth.

People accused Nigerians living in the building of drugging the boy. Police picked up five Nigerians and confiscated their passports, but released them because of lack of evidence.

More than 4,000 Africans stay in Greater Noida, many of them studying in private universities and colleges that have come up in the area over the past decade. But many of them say that they feel uncomfortable at the hostile attitude of locals, who see the Africans as the source of crime and drugs.

“We come to India to study in peace but we will not be bullied by any violence. The African students should unite against this blatant racism and we want government to take strong action against the mob,” said Jenal, a Nigerian

On Tuesday, District Magistrate NP Singh held a meeting with the members of resident welfare associations and representatives of Nigerian Students’ Association.

“They have come here to study, the rumours that are being spread need to stop. We should try to understand and value one another’s culture,” said Singh.

He also called the rumours of cannibalism that have spread as ridiculous.

He added “We met to clear out the confusions and for confidence building measures between foreign nationals, locals and administration. We have formed committees for coordination and sensitisation of local and formal communities. These communities will work towards cultural sensitisation and creating awareness of law of land.”

“There are a lot of Indians living in Africa peacefully. Nigeria alone has around two lakh Indians living there. We give them the best of treatment and hospitality. And when we come here, we expect the same,” said Association of African Students President Samuel Jack.

“If this continues, we might have to call a boycott of India,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar spoke to the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria and assured him of the steps being taken by local authorities for the safety and security of Nigerian nationals.

“The government is committed to ensuring safety and security of all foreigners in India. People from Africa, including students and youth, remain our valued partners,” said the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.