New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Sunday condemned recent attacks on African nationals in the national capital.
“It is so painful to hear that the attackers have not spared even a four-month-old baby,” said a press note from CBCI secretary general Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.
The baby was among seven African nationals allegedly attacked on May 26 by a group of ten men in a by-lane of Chhatarpur, a suburb in southern Delhi.
The victims said the attackers hurled racial slurs at them and beat them up with iron rods, sticks, bricks and cricket bats.
The incident took place a week after a man from Congo was beaten to death in Vasant Kunj, another locality in south Delhi.
On Sunday, police arrested five people in connection with the May 26 incident. Police claimed the attacks were “isolated incidents” not racist in nature. Two of those attacked have alleged they were beaten with cricket bats.
The arrests happened after Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi. Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to the Home Minister, and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, about the attacks and said she was assured that the culprits would soon be arrested. Apart from the arrests, 5 others have been detained.
Bishop Mascarenhas appealed fellow citizens to uphold Indian traditional values of revering guests as divine. “The African nationals and for that matter nationals of any country are our esteemed guests. Treat them as per our culture,” the Church official said.
The prelate also expressed concern over the emergence of “a disturbing trend” of people taking law into their hands. “Incidents related to communalism and racism are on the increase. Perhaps some statements made by politicians, bureaucrats and group leaders are encouraging people in this direction,” he added.
The attacks on Africans in India have exposed another ugly face of the caste system, says Noah Seelam, an Indian journalist.
In the first case on Thursday, a scuffle reportedly broke out between Leuchy, a Nigerian, and some Indians. However, Leuchy claimed the group attacked him and his friend without any reason. “After that, they started targeting other African nationals in the locality… it seemed like a pre-planned attack,” said Jason, another Nigerian.
The second alleged attack was on Kenneth Igbinosa, his wife Kate and the couple’s son, said police. According to Igbinosa, the attackers hit his car with cricket bats and sticks. He said he managed to drive his car out of the lane.
The targets of the third attack were Ugandan national Vikky and her brother Pierre. Cameroon nationals Shamira and her friend, who tried to help the duo, said they had to face the wrath of the attackers as well. Shamira claimed the attackers were shouting “go back to Africa.”
Three cases have been registered at Mehrauli police station and police are investigating the matter, said DCP (south) Ishwar Singh. “We are trying to identify the attackers and they will be arrested soon,” he said.