If you think that the recent case of a Tanzanian woman being assaulted by a mob of local people in Bengaluru is the first such case, then you are wrong.
In fact, this attack is the third case in less than a year and this incident has taken place despite the presence of the Police-African Students Co-Ordination Committee (PASCC), which was formed by the Bengaluru police in April 2015. It was formed after mob attacks on African nationals in March 2015.
In March 2015, four African nationals were allegedly attacked by a mob at Byrathi in Bengaluru after residents were reportedly annoyed with them for creating “nuisance” in the area. Police remained tight-lipped about the incident and had not registered a complaint until public pressure started building up. Until then, they maintained that it was a verbal duel which resulted in “incidents of pushing and jostling”.
According to the then home minister KJ George, the victims – hailing from countries in Africa - had refused to file a complaint, as they did not want “long term issues”. Hence, the police had filed a suo motu case. Nine local men were arrested in connection with the attack, reported Times of India. This incident also forced Bengaluru police to form a committee in April 2015 to maintain better relationship between the local people and African Nationals, reported Indian Express.
However, in yet another incident in June 2015, a college in east Bengaluru, affiliated to Bangalore University was accused of harassing African students. They alleged that the college had not returned their passports to them, and they were made to run from pillar to post to get it back.
They alleged that the college was asking for exorbitant fees from them, not issuing bonafide certificate, which is needed for foreign national students to register with Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO). They also said that the college was making false claims of providing engineering seats and later forcing them to take up Arts, reported Times of India.
The incident came to light when eight students gathered at Bangalore University to meet the vice-chancellor.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)