Tanzanian student assault case: Two Bengaluru cops suspended, 4 more arrested

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police on Friday suspended two constables for alleged negligence on duty and made more arrests in connection with the brutal assault on the 21-year-old Tanzanian student by a violent mob on Sunday.

According to reports, at least four persons have been arrested today by the city police in connection with the case.

 

While speaking to reporters, Bengaluru Police Commissioner NS Megharikh said, ''Two constables have been suspended, some more action will be taken today. We will not hesitate.''

Enquiry is going on. We are verifying how many were there actually. She (victim) said in statement about the presence of policemen during the assault which has been established now, he added.

The move came hours after the young Tanzanian student, who was allegedly stripped, assaulted and paraded naked by an angry mob in Bengaluru, claimed that the cops on duty did nothing to help her when she pleaded for help.

 

Categorically refuting the city police' claims, the Tanzanian girl said, "There were policemen around before the attacks began, but once they started beating us I do not know where they went."

She was quoted as telling CNN-IBN in a telephone conversion.

The African student made the statement hours after the Bengaluru police and the state government made contradictory statements regarding the incident.

She also appeared to be rejecting the suggestions of Karnataka ministers and police that it was not racist attack but a case of road rage.

"They saw us as Africans and started beating us," she was quoted as saying.

 

It was initially reported the African woman was assaulted, stripped and paraded naked by a mob in the outskirts of the city on Sunday, but the Karnataka government later denied she was paraded naked.

She also claimed that a large number of people who were present at the spot also attacked her friends, who were pleading for help. Five people were later arrested by the police and a case registered.

Meanwhile, a high-level delegation of the Ministry of External Affairs is scheduled to reach Bengaluru today to assess the situation on the ground.

The Tanzanian High Commissioner is also expected to accompany the MEA delegation.