Indians attacked in Congo after murder of Congolese student in Delhi

New Delhi, May 26

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said some shops of Indians in Congo were attacked and some Indians have been injured, possibly in reaction to murder of a Congolese student in Delhi on May 20.

“Our Embassy in Congo is in touch with local authorities and as of now things have calmed down,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said, adding India's relations with Congo go back many years.

The MEA said thousands of African students continue to benefit from the Indian education system and “we will ensure full safety to them”.

As per www.digitalcongo.net, Congo’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Antoine Boyamba Okombo appealed to his countrymen no to attack the Indians who chose Congo as their second homeland.

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Okombo also expressed his government’s concern with Indian Ambassador to Congo, SK Ashok Warrier following the murder Congolese student in New Delhi.

The deputy minister called the Congolese not to take revenge. “I run a message to our countrymen not to plunder homes and shops of Indians because those who live with us have nothing to do with what happened in New Delhi,” he was quoted as saying by digitalcongo.net.

“Our country is at a turning point, we must keep our heads and do not make acts of savagery. If we plunder Indian stores, many compatriots who work with them will become unemployed,” he warned.

Govt reaches out to African countries

Earlier, the Indian government decided that Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh (retd) would be meeting the African Heads of Missions every three months.

Singh, who met the Dean and a few representatives of African HOMs yesterday, strongly condemned the murder of the African student and assured them strongest legal action would be taken against the accused, sources said.

Sources added that both Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma are pursuing the matter.

It has also been decided that the Minister of State for External Affairs will also do an outreach event with the African students along with Embassies concerned to reassure them of safety.

The MEA, in a statement, said Swaraj was personally monitoring the matter.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had earlier said has asked her colleague in the MEA to meet the heads of missions of African countries in the national capital and assure them of the government's commitment to safety and security of African nationals in India.

On May 21, the Delhi Police detained one person in connection with the murder case. Masonda Ketada Olivier (23) was on his way home when he got into an argument with three to four persons. The argument later led to a fight after which the African youth was chased and beaten with sticks and stones.

He was then rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The police have launched a probe into the matter and are trying to ascertain whether the attack was racially motivated, a fight turning ugly, a robbery attempt or a case of personal enmity.

The cops are also looking for any CCTV footage that might have recorded this brutal act. — Agencies