Committed to ensuring security of foreign students: Karnataka Home Minister

Had a pedestrian not been killed, the Tanzanian girl would not have been assaulted, he says.

In the wake of a mob assault of a Tanzanian student in Bengaluru, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday said that his department has taken the attack seriously and was committed to ensuring the security of foreign students living in the State.

Confirming that five persons were arrested so far, Mr. Parameshwara said the case has been handed over to the Central Crime Branch.

A mob beat up three Tanzanian students and set their car ablaze on Sunday after a woman was mowed down by a car belonging to a Sudanese student in the same area earlier. A Tanzanian girl accompanying the victims was reportedly sexually assaulted and her clothes were stripped off.

But Mr. Parameshwara denied media reports that the girl was sexually assaulted. He went ahead and revealed the name of the victim, which

The Hindu is withholding. He said: “The attackers manhandled the woman and tore her clothes. She escaped and tried to board a BMTC but the passengers refused to help her. However, one Iranian student helped her to reach a safe place.”

“Had the incident (the killing of a pedestrian by a car belonging to Sudanese student) not occurred, the assault would not have happened,” Mr. Parameshwara said.

Mr. Parameshwara also denied that the police refused to file an FIR. As one of the Tanzanian victims approached the police on the same day, an FIR was filed at Soladevanahalli police station. However, the woman approached the police only on Tuesday, the Minister claimed.

Action would be taken against police officials if any lapses were found on their part, Mr. Parameshwara assured.