Since Saturday, hundreds of Indians in Noida City, India, have been violently attacking African migrants over the alleged death of a teenage boy due to a suspected drug overdose, which locals blamed on a Nigerian.
Africans in shopping centers and colleges within Noida have been physically attacked by locals who accuse them of drug trafficking, according to Al Jazeera.
The violence started after police in Greater Noide, a satellite city of New Delhi, set free five African college students who were arrested in connection with the drug overdose case, saying that they had no evidence to link them to the teen’s death.
One of the victims, Endurance Amalawa, told NDTV that he was standing outside a shopping mall with his brother when a group of Indian men descended on them and started beating them mercilessly.
“We kept crying for help, but no one came, not even the security marshals,” Amalawa, a student at one of the local universities, said:
Indians in Greater Noida city have gone on a violent spree attacking Africans who they accused were responsible for a drug death pic.twitter.com/YkuHNPsaHU
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) March 29, 2017
Indians attacking and brutalising nigerians and some other africans for the past 5 days.and no serious action is taken yet!!! pic.twitter.com/gyzuFuIIbV
— al-ameen✌️ (@Mzeecool) March 29, 2017
Racial Discrimination Against Blacks
Images of dozens of Indian men brutally attacking Black people with iron seats, metal, and sticks in the streets of Noida have caused outrage on social media, with some people accusing Indians of being racists:
Africans are being discriminated in India, we are being discriminated in Europe and even back here we face racism, where are we safe?
— The Instigator (@AmBlujay) March 29, 2017
The irony of Indians attacking Africans in India when they live here in millions
— Mikhail (@Kosgeybett) June 9, 2016
I cannot be Nigeria’s president sha. South Africans and Indians attacking Nigerians? I swear on my great grandfather I could start a war
— YemiFame (@Mister_DingDong) March 29, 2017
Confirming the attacks on Tuesday, Singh, a senior police officer, told AFP News that at least 300 Indians were involved in the attacks, adding that five men were already in police custody in connection with the attacks.
“Rumors were being spread that Africans were behind the youth’s death and racist comments were made on social media. It looks racially motivated,” Singh said.
Africans in India have repeatedly complained about racial discrimination by locals who often accuse them of involvement in the illegal drug trade. Others accuse Africans of being cannibals.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since issued a statement condemning the attacks, promising that all necessary steps will be taken to protect Africans and other foreign nationals in the country.
The Africa & India Connection
Thousands of Africans traveled to India as slaves and business people during the 17th century and later settled down in the country, where they have continued to intermarry with the indigenous people.
Unfortunately, even the Black Indians, who are born and raised in the country, are often subjected to racial discrimination.
