External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, on Sunday, stepped in to assuage the rising tension in India-Africa relations following another attack on African nationals in the national capital. At least seven Africans, including four women, were allegedly attacked and racially abused by a mob in Rajpur Khurd village in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.
In a series of tweets, she said," I have spoken to Shri Raj Nath Singhji and Lt. Governor Delhi regarding the attack on African nationals in South Delhi yesterday. They assured me that the culprits will be arrested soon and sensitization campaign will be launched in areas where African nationals reside."
Rajnath promises strict action
Minutes after the External Affairs Minister posted her message, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he condemned such incidents and has spoken to "CP Delhi regarding the incident of physical assault against certain African nationals in New Delhi." He added that strict action would be taken against those behind the attack.
The victims include a Nigerian couple and their young son, a Cameroonian brother-sister duo returning from a hospital, a Ugandan hairstylist standing outside her shop and another Nigerian young man coming from a hospital. All the purported victims and fellow Africans living in the village have claimed that the attack was planned. However, the police described the attacks as “scuffle” between two sides.
Of those injured, 29-year-old Leuchy was the first one to be attacked around 10.30 p.m. and sustained a deep cut on his nose and the treatment required some stitches. Three more set of attacks were carried out by a group, variably described as consisting of 10 to 15 people armed with cricket bats, iron rods and sharp-edged weapons.
