Police rescue six African nationals from mob in Dwarka

New Delhi: Prompt response by Delhi Police personnel led to the rescue of six African nationals from Hari Vihar of Dwarka district on Tuesday, who were under threat of being assaulted by a violent mob on Thursday.

Cops said the mob had gathered after a rumour had spread in Kakrola's Hari Vihar area, under jurisdiction of Dwarka North police station, that some Africans had kidnapped a boy and confined him to a house in the area.

According to cops, between 6.57 and 7:38 pm on Tuesday, five PCR calls were received at Dwarka North police station about a quarrel with an African woman in the area.

Local police reached the spot and found a gathering of about 200-250 persons in front of the house.

Cops found that two Tanzanian women, aged 28 and 26, lived there on rent since the last month. They were rescued safely and the gathering was got dispersed.

Sources further said that at 7.40 pm, a sixth PCR call was received where a woman claimed that her 16-year-old son had been kidnapped by some Nigerians. However, this claim turned out to be false.

A while later, cops rescued two more Tanzanian women, aged 25 and 30 years, from Old Palam Road while they were to their way to their rented accommodation in Hari Vihar. All four women were then safely handed over to members of the African Community.

"After peace was brought in the area, the house where the incident took place in Hari Vihar was searched after midnight. Locks of two rooms on the first floor were broken. One room was found empty, while two Nigerian nationals Nwaogu (38) and Ogbuewu, (34) were found in the other room," said a police official.

He added that Nwaogu was found to be without an Indian visa, as a result of which he will be deported soon. "No injury was reported to any of the African nationals and the mob was dispersed. The matter is under investigation," police said.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness claimed that when the mob had gathered near the building, some Africans persons were seen jumping from the back side and fleeing the spot. Cops are yet to confirm whether or not it was a hoax.

"Few persons who did not live in the area came to the spot with some African nationals, who then pointed at the house and a mob soon gathered. There was no kidnapping at all," said a resident.