Karnataka Orders Probe Into Case Of Assault And Stripping Of Tanzanian Student
04 February, Bengaluru
The Karnataka Government has ordered an a police inquiry into the case of physical assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student in the city on January 31, Home minsiter G Parameshwara Thursday said.
Five people have been areste3dc in the case of road rageresulting in the the case of a 35 year-old woman killed on the roaddue to rash driving of a Sudanese student, who was arrested.
The car was set on fire by ireate mob he had been detained,police said.
Addressing a press conference here, Dr Parameshwar said that theattack on the 21 year old girl student was a not a racial attack.Enraged over mowing down the woman the mob indulged in violence,
Confirming that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hadspoken to Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj in this connection, he saidthat the Ministry office was informed about the steps taken by theState government and about directing CCB to investigate the incidentand give a report.
Stating that the State government is giving all protection to theforeign students, Dr Parameshwar said that “there are 12,000 foreignstudents in Bengaluru, their protection is our duty. These kind ofincidents should not happen.”
The girl was alleged to have been attacked on January 31 whileshe and her three Tanzanian friends were going in a car inGanapathinagar, in the outskirts of the city. About half an hourearlier 20 year-old Sudanese student Mohamed Ahamed Ismail had runover Shabana Taj while alking with her husband, electricalcontractor Sanaullah. Enraged over the incident and Ismail tryingto escape in the car, locals who were witness to the incident chasedhim and after pulling him out set fire to the car and he was beatenbefore handing over to the police.
A mob, allegedly comprising locals, that was rioting followingthe accident, stopped the girl’s car. “We got out of the car andthere were many people around. There was a policeman standing nearbyand I asked him what had happened. He said nothing. A friends rushedto me and asked me not to walk around. By then, the mob started attacking us thinking that we were friends of the accused.”
Speaking to reporters at the Invest Karnataka 2016 — Investorsmeet here, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that Ms Sushma Swarajhad spoken to him over telephone and the state government would besending a report to her.
“I have asked the police to conduct inquiry on why complaintwere not registered and FIR filed. Action will be initiated againsterring police officials, if there is any fault on their part,” he added.
The National Women Commission Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalamhas registered a case suo moto and served a notice on the Karnataka Government.
BJP Spokesperson S Suresh Kumar, condemning the incident, allegedthat the state government has failed in its duty of extending protection.
Talking to newsmen he took strong exception for revealing thename of the Tanzanian student who was allegedly stripped and paradednaked. “The state government should find out who mentioned the namesince the name of victim of any sexual assault should not bementioned anywhere as per rule. Steps should be taken to provideprotection to all the people,” he added.