Embassy officials call on Gautam Buddh Nagar top cop

Worried about the safety of Nigerian nationals residing in Greater Noida, the officials from African Embassy on Tuesday held a meeting with Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar requesting him to intensify the security in the city and also put an end to racial attacks.

The racial riots broke out after the 16-year-old, Manish Khari, from Greater Noida died of drug abuse. His family alleged that few Nigerian nationals living in

their neighborhood lured him to drugs.

The meeting was held between the Senior Superintendent of Police Gautam Buddh Nagar and officials from African Embassy along with the conveyor of the National Association of African Nationals in India. The police officials have assured them that they will look after the security of African nationals in the city.

"We have deployed extra police force in all the sectors of the city. Special instructions have been issued to the cops to secure residential societies with African population. We are keeping a sharp eye on such sectors where these African nationals live in large numbers," said Dharmendra Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police Gautam Buddh Nagar.

"Additional police force has been called from other police stations of the city like Kasna, Knowledge Park and Surajpur police stations. We have booked over 1200 people and arrested five in connection with some Nigerian nationals being thrashed by locals in the city. An FIR has been registered against ten people in Kasna Police station," said a top cop.

Soon Khari's death, there have been multiple reports of racially motivated attacks on people of African origin living in Greater Noida. On Monday thousands of locals held candle march as a protest at Pari Chowk, Greater Noida.

During the protest they spotted a Nigerian passerby who was thrashed by the localities. The mob also damaged his car. Also, another Nigerian was brutally beaten by the infuriated mob in Ansal Plaza mall near Pari chowk.

"We have always tried our level best to ensure the safety of all the international students and residents in the districts. Whatever happened was shameful. We will

investigate the matter and will punish all those involved in thrashing the African nationals that took place on

Monday night," said N.P Singh, District Magistrate, Gautam Nuddh Nagar.

Zaharaddeen Mohammad, National Academic Coordinator, Association of African students in India told Millennium Post, "We have been assured that the African nationals living in Greater Noida will be provided intensified security. We are satisfied with what the police officials and the District Magistrate have promised us. We hope and pray that such racial attacks do not occur again."