Racial attacks: Delhi has a history of violence against ‘Nigerians’
The conflict of races has gone hyperlocal in the Capital with people of African origin settling in ghettos across colonies owned by old-timers and their families. HT takes a look back at how Delhi has been unkind to Africans residing here.
Anger spread like fire at Pari Chowk in Greater Noida, about 40 kilometres away from the heart of Delhi, on Monday. More than 100 people, who had gathered at the quaint roundabout with candles to stage a vigil after the death of a 17-year-old student, ended up attacking Africans spotted anywhere in the vicinity. They alleged that the teenager died after a few Nigerians forced him to inhale drugs.
The peaceful protest soon turned into a riot and there were rumours about the abduction of an African woman, which the local police denied. The latest incident only adds to the long list of hate crimes in Delhi NCR against people who look and live different.
The conflict of races has gone hyperlocal in the Capital with people of African origin settling in ghettos across colonies owned by old-timers and their families. HT takes a look back at how Delhi has often been unkind to Africans residing here.
May 2016: Congolese youth beaten to death in Vasant Kunj
A 23-year-old Congolese national was beaten to death in Kishangarh near Vasant Kunj where he had gone to meet a friend.
Police said that the victim, MT Oliva, was on his way home when apparently had an argument with some men.
The victim was chased for 20 meters and then beaten up by the assailants with stones and bricks lying around. He was later taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.
May 2016: Over a dozen African nationals attacked in South Delhi
At least four men and two women were injured in the attack on at least 12 Africans in Rajpur Khurd village in south Delhi. They were attacked by locals who allegedly objected to the “free lifestyle” of these men and women.
Police had said that there were four attacks within a span of an hour which hinted that they may have been carried out in a planned way. In two cases, the complainants were women — one a Uganda national and the other of South Africa. In the other two, the complainants were Nigerian men.
October 2014: Mob attacked African students at Rajiv Chowk metro station
CCTV cameras installed at the station captured three African students being beaten up by a mob. They had to climb up a booth at the station to save themselves.
The footage showed that nobody came forward to help the students even though many were busy shooting the incident on the camera. A few policemen, who tried to intervene, soon walked away allowing the attack to continue. The attack ended when a CISF personnel dispersed the crowd.
Some, who later claimed to be witnesses, said the students had allegedly harassed a woman on the train, which made the crowd angry. But the police did not confirm the allegation.
January 2014: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti led a mob that allegedly “attacked” African women
AAP MLA Somnath Bhari went to south Delhi’s Khirki Extension, an African ghetto, after he was allegedly tipped off about a sex and drug racket operational in the area. He had gone there to conduct a sting operation along with his supporters and TV crew .
Four African women — two Nigerians and two Ugandans — were allegedly mobbed by Bharti’s men following which they were taken to AIIMS hospital. However, AIIMS hospital later confirmed that no drug traces were found in their body.
The women alleged that Bharti’s supporters even molested them.