Death of a local by drunk driver sparks violence by mob.
By Dileep Thekkethil
A racist attack on a 21-year-old Tanzanian student in Bengaluru, who was stripped naked and made to walk on streets, has left a black mark on the global image of India’s IT hub.
Thousands of African students and employees come for better education and living in Bengaluru, reported The Times of India.
According to reports, the unfortunate incident happened after a Sudanese medical student knocked down a local Muslim couple, causing the death of 35-year-old Sabeen Taj. The Tanzanian woman who was travelling in her car was allegedly stopped by the mob and her car was set fire.
The mob had earlier on Sunday set ablaze the car of the Sudanese medical student Mohammed Ahad, 20, who has been booked by the police for driving under the influence of alcohol and rash driving.
The incident happed at Ganapahinagar near Hesaraghatta Main Road in North Bangalore, which is home to a number of African students who study in colleges nearby. The area is prone to violent clashes with locals and African students, who stay in housing colonies in the area.
Even though the Tanzanian student didn’t register any case against the mob that stripped her in the middle of the road on Sunday, after the story was reported by a few sections of the media, the 21-year-old was summoned to the police station and her statement was recorded.
“We were shocked by media reports on Wednesday and we summoned the victim to know what exactly happened. She appeared before the Soladevanahalli police and gave a new statement saying she was stripped by a mob. We have added suitable sections of the Indian Penal Code to the FIR that was registered earlier based on the complaint that her car was set afire. We need to investigate the case to find out the truth,†the Deputy Commissioner of Police (north division) T R Suresh said, according to The Times of India.
The Tanzanian woman who had to face the ordeal unleashed by the angry mob is a student of Business Administration at the Acharya College in Soladevanahalli. She had initially said to one of the African Student Association that the mob stripped her and set on fire her car after a road accident. She also alleged that the police constables who were present at the scene was of no help to her.
A senor police officer was quoted by The Indian Express saying “There has been no report from any witnesses of a woman being stripped by the angry mob after the accident. The African student who caused the death of a local resident was arrested by the Jalahalli traffic police.â€
Few months back, in the Kothaanur region of north Bangalore, four Ivory Coast students were beaten up by the locals after residents complained about frequent late night partying. The police had back then arrested 9 people in connection with the case even though the students refused to file a complaint. The issue was brought to the notice of the police by a local bar owner where one of the students was beaten up.
Social media reactions
We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 3, 2016
Sudanian's car kills Bangalore resident. Locals strip and assault a Tanzanian girl 30 minutes later. This is how racism as a mindset works
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) February 3, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoSunpB3hck