A group of unidentified African nationals allegedly got into an altercation with an African national and vandalised a private nursing home in Saket in the early hours of Saturday.
The police have registered a First Information Report based on a complaint by the nursing home’s receptionist.
Head injury
Lairab, the receptionist at Sawan Neelu Angel’s Nursing Home, told the police that three African nationals, including one with a head injury, entered the nursing home around 4 a.m.
“I took them to the emergency ward, where a doctor on night duty informed them about the cost of treatment. They said it was expensive and that they will go for treatment at another hospital,” the receptionist said.
According to the complainant, 10-12 African nationals were waiting for the trio across the road.
Meanwhile, another injured African national arrived in an auto-rickshaw outside the nursing home.
“The man in the auto-rickshaw had a cast on the right hand. The people waiting on the road across the nursing home got agitated as soon they saw him. They pulled out sticks from their cars and started walking towards him,” claimed Mr. Lairab.
Furniture broken
The man with the cast ran inside the nursing home. The group followed him. According to the receptionist, the security guard and he tried to stop them from entering the nursing home but in vain.
“They entered the laboratory in pursuit of the man with the cast, and vandalised the furniture and equipment there. They also broke furniture and paintings in the reception area,” the receptionist said.
Fight at restaurant
He added that the group and the man with the cast left as soon as he called the police.
The police said the group and the man had fought at a restaurant before heading to the nursing home.
“They got into a fight at a restaurant near Mehrauli church and a few people got injured,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Chinmoy Biswal, adding that the police are yet to ascertain the reason behind the scuffle.
The police said an injured Nigerian national at Safdarjung Hospital had informed them about the fight at the restaurant.
CCTV footage
“The people present at the hospital haven’t been identified yet but we have obtained CCTV footage to establish their identity. Further investigations are on,” Mr. Biswal said.
A case has been registered under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (mischief causing damage), and 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code.
