MEA terms case as isolated, team to visit B'luru today

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a bid to reach out to the African students and reassure them safety and security in the country, will send a high-level team to Bengaluru on Friday. Tanzanian High Commissioner John WH Kijazi will also accompany the MEA officials. Kijazi is also the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps.

"We have already condemned this incident unequivocally. External Affairs Minister has already said that she is deeply pained by this shameful incident and she has already spoken to Karnataka Chief Minister about it. Today, we have received a report from Bengaluru city police commissioner who has assured that stringent measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in future. All five accused have been arrested and necessary legal action is being taken,’’ MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday.

Nearly 5,000 students from African countries study in India and their security and well-being is "our concern’’, the spokesperson said. He described the incident as an "isolated’’ one and said the Centre and the State will extend full cooperation to the investigating agencies.

Swarup said the report of Bengaluru police commissioner gave their version of the incident, how the road accident took place and the delay in lodging the complaint. "But the important thing is to ensure that African students continue to be safe and secure in India and feel that we care about their well-being,’’ he said.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the incident is "shameful" and no racial discrimination will be tolerated in the country. "For 200 years, India was enslaved by foreigners. We have been fighting against racial discrimination. But in India itself, if there is racial discrimination, the government will take it very seriously. We will not allow racial discrimination to take place in the country. This is a matter of shame for the entire nation," he said.

The Home Ministry has also asked the Karnataka government to give a detailed report about the circumstances leading to the assault of the Tanzanian woman, the action taken against those allegedly involved in it and steps taken for the protection of the victim.

The Home Ministry also said the report should be sent as early as possible for taking necessary action by the Central government as the incident had happened involving a foreign national.

Tanzanian High Commissioner John WH Kijazi said he had sent a complaint to the government and sought prompt action against those behind the "unfortunate" incident."We request the Government of India to ensure safety and security of our students in Bengaluru and all other places in India," he said. 

The Tanzanian student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car in Bengaluru last Sunday. The mob allegedly dragged her out of the car, in which she was sitting with three of her friends, at the accident spot – mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said.