Cops hold meet to restore calm in South Delhi

Five persons were arrested on Sunday by Delhi police in connection with alleged assault on African nationals in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area in which seven of them were injured.

The city police has also detained four more persons during its investigation into four separate cases filed in connection with assaults on African nationals at the Mehrauli police station on Thursday.

“Five accused — identified as Babu, Om Prakash, Ajay, Kunal and Rahul — have been arrested on charges of causing hurt and wrongful confinement,” DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said.

Four others who were detained are being questioned to ascertain their role in the attacks. “If their role is established in the crime, they will then be arrested for further action,” Mr Singh added.

At least seven African nationals, including three women, had sustained injuries in the series of attacks. The police said a scuffle broke out between locals and Africans as the latter were reportedly playing loud music and drinking in public.

Meanwhile, a fresh case in the matter was registered in connection with the alleged assault on a brother-sister duo from Cameroon around the same time in the area.

A police official denied that rods or bats were used in the assaults, saying the nature of injuries would have been different then. He said one woman had sustained an injury on her nose. The incidents took place in the backdrop of the murder of a 29-year-old Congolese national Masonda Ketanda Olivier in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area last week.

New Delhi has assured the African envoys of safety and security of all African nationals. Five cases have been registered in connection with the attacks.

To maintain social harmony in Rajpur Khurd village, a meeting with various resident associations in the area was organised in the presence of senior police officials.

Addressing the meeting, DCP Ishwar Singh said, “They have come to our country, they are our guests and friends. They have come here just because they trust us. The way you behave with them will have repercussions on our brothers living outside. An example is the way Indians were attacked after the murder of the Congolese youth.”

He requested locals to cooperate with the police and approach the police in case they have any issue with foreign nationals living in the area.

Since Saturday, the Delhi police has held several meetings with various resident associations in the area.