The constable who failed to protect the 24-year-old Tanzanian girl from mob attack last Sunday, and two other policemen, were suspended on Friday. Four more persons have also been arrested in connection with the attack. Tanzanian High Commissioner John W.H. Kijazi sought an increased role for embassy officials in the measures to build confidence between the African community and the locals.
Coordination panel
A co-ordination committee for African students has been formed by the city police.
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Acknowledging that there were small frictions between the communities, Mr. Kijazi told presspersons: “I have come here as a representative of all African nations and my colleagues at the embassies. We wish to be part of these peace exercises.”
Respect laws: envoy The High Commissioner, who earlier met Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara and top police officials, said he believed the communities could live in harmony.
“I call upon the African students to respect the laws of the land, the State’s and the local leadership. I call upon the local community to understand the students and discuss the issues,” he said.
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He met the victim of the attack, sources said.
Declining to term the attacks “racist”, the Tanzanian High Commissionersaid racism had numerous interpretations.
Striking a conciliatory note after a two-hour long meeting with Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Mr. Kijazi expressed appreciation for the stern measures taken by the State government following the attack.
Mr. Kijazi told reporters: “We have not come to discuss racism. What we should now focus in only on the future and ensure such instances are not repeated. More than racism, there are small frictions between communities – the African students and the locals, which manifest sometimes,” he said.
He added that a system would be instituted where locals and African nationals meet often and iron out their differences.
Partha Satpathy, Joint Secretary (States), Ministry of External Affairs, who was also part of the meeting said that they had come here to tell the students that the country cared for the security of African students and they were always welcome.
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the molestation incident, while observing that it amounted to not only a serious violation of human rights of the student, but also racism.
The NHRC has issued notices to the Karnataka Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, asking them to submit a report within two weeks on the action taken by them in the matter, which involved alleged stripping of the student on January 31 night. The Commission noted that when the student was allegedly stripped and forced to walk “without her top”, a police constable, who was present at the scene, remained a mute spectator. She lodged a complaint with the police as well.
About half-an-hour before the incident, a road accident had taken place at the site.
( Additional inputs by Mohammed Iqbal )