Hyderabad: A 23-year-old Nigerian student was reportedly hit by an iron rod and thrashed in Hyderabad, following an argument over parking space on Wednesday.
According to police, on Wednesday night an argument broke out between Nigerian national Ghazeem, a third-year degree student in a city college and a resident of Singadabasti locality in Banjara Hills area, and Mohd Gafoor after the former parked his car in front of Gafoor’s building, despite he being told to park it in his own apartment complex.
However, Ghazeem apparently refused to remove his car after which the scuffle broke out. Gafoor took out a rod and hit him on his head resulting in injuries, a senior police officer said.
A case was registered under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused has been arrested, reported news18.com.
“We have arrested the accused, it’s a case of car parking misunderstanding, not a racial crime,” said Anjani Kumar, Hyderabad Police.
Meanwhile, the Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has sought a report from the state government about the incident.
“On reports of a Nigerian student injured in Hyderabad: EAM @SushmaSwaraj has urgently sought report from State Govt; is monitoring the case”, ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop tweeted in the morning.
The incident comes days after a 23-year-old Congolese national MK Olivier was beaten to death in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area.
Outraged over the killing, African countries have demanded concrete steps against ‘racism and Afro-phobia’ and sought deferment of the celebrations of Africa Day by India, which assured them of safety and security of their nationals.
Dean of African Group Head of Missions and Ambassador of Eritrea Alem Tsehage Woldemariam said the envoys of 42 African countries met and deliberated extensively on recent attacks against its nationals.
—pti