Karnataka begins confidence-building measures for African students

Karnataka state home minister G Parameshwara on Thursday visited the Tanzanian woman who had been attacked in Bengaluru and her friends, and reportedly gave them his personal mobile phone number as well as those of senior police officials, reports The Economic Times.

This was one among several confidence-building measures the state is taking to assure African students in the city of safety.

"Police patrolling has also been increased in the area where the mob attacked the students. A peace committee comprising locals and foreign students is being set up, in consultation with college managements. We will do this in all areas where foreign students reside in the city," said Parameshwara, who met a team from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Tanzanian High Commissioner on Friday. The director general of police, the home secretary, the additional director general of police (intelligence) and Bengaluru police commissioner NS Megharikh also attended the meeting.

"The only message I have now for our African students is peace," said Tanzanian high commissioner John WH Kijazi after the meeting. He will address African students in the city on Saturday.

The Tanzanian woman was attacked by a mob on Sunday, 31 January, after she passed by a spot when a Sudanese driver had killed a woman in an accident.

The mob hauled her out of the car, ripped off her clothes and paraded her naked. They also beat up her companions.

Nine people, including two BJP workers have been arrested for the assault, based on CCTV footage and eyewitness reports. An inspector and constable have been suspended for not saving the girl from the mob.