Nigerian student thrashed in Hyderabad over parking dispute

A 23-year-old Nigerian student received head injuries after a man in his neighbourhood hit him with a rod following a dispute over car-parking in Banjara Hills area in Hyderabad, police said on Friday.

According to the police, on Wednesday night, argument broke out between a Nigerian national Ghazeem, a third-year degree student in a city college and a resident of Singadabasti locality in Banjara Hills, Mohd Gafoor, after the former parked his car in front of Gafoor’s building, despite being told to park in his own apartment complex.

However, Ghazeem allegedly refused to remove his car after which a scuffle broke out. Gafoor hit him on his head with a rod, resulting in injuries, a senior police officer said.

“The incident occurred on Wednesday night after a dispute over car-parking. Following a complaint by the Nigerian student, a case was registered against Gafoor and he has been taken into custody. We have started investigations into the matter,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (Banjara Hills Division) Uday Kumar Reddy said.

A counter-complaint was lodged by Gafoor, however no case has been registered, the ACP added.

Minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj has sought a report after the incident.

“On reports of a Nigerian student injured in Hyderabad: EAM @SushmaSwaraj has urgently sought report from State Govt, is monitoring the case”, ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop tweeted in the morning.

The incident comes days after Masonda Ketada Oliver, a 29-year-old Congolese national, was beaten to death in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area. He was murdered by three men in an altercation over hiring an autorickshaw.

The murder resulted in a full-blown diplomatic disaster for India with African nations threatening to boycott the Centre’s showpiece Africa Day celebrations.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj moved swiftly to reassure African envoys of the safety of their nationals, including students studying in the country.

The African diplomats later agreed to participate in the feat but raised tough questions.

There were also reports of some Indian shops being attacked in Congo, possibly a backlash against the Delhi murder.

(An earlier version of the report wrongly identified the victim as girl)