Outrage as Tanzanian stripped

In what has caused acute embarrassment to New Delhi, the government on Wednesday evening expressed “deep pain” and “regret” to Tanzania over a “shameful” incident in Bengaluru in which a mob reportedly attacked and stripped a young Tanzanian woman in the Karnataka capital on Sunday night. The action came after a furious Tanzania issued a “note verbale” to India about the reported attacks on African students in Bengaluru, requesting the government to “follow up on this matter and take necessary legal action against those involved in such attacks and to ensure the safety and security of all African students in India”.

Other African countries are also reportedly outraged over the matter. With external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj reacting immediately, the Centre said it had taken up the matter with the Karnataka state government and had been informed by it that a criminal case has been registered and that four accused persons have been arrested.

The government has also asked the Congress-ruled Karnataka government to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty.

The 21-year-old Tanzanian doing her BBM course was dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends after it was stopped by the mob shortly after they reached the accident spot on Sunday night, according to the All African Students Union (AASU) in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

“We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru. I spoke to the chief minister Karnataka. He informed me that a criminal case has been registered and four accused have been arrested. I have asked the chief minister to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

The Tanzanian woman was stripped by a section of the mob and pushed out of a slow moving bus that was passing by as she tried to board it to escape from them, the AASU legal adviser said.