In a strong reaction to attacks on African nationals, heads of African missions in India termed the incidents as "xenophobic and racial" and asserted that no known, sufficient and visible deterring measures have been taken by the government.
The envoys, who recently held a "special" meeting on the incidents, called for an independent investigation by the Human Rights Council as well as other human rights bodies and also to comprehensively report the matter to the Commission of the African Union.
The envoys said they expectated a strong condemnation from the highest political level both nationally and locally.
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A press release dated March 31 from the office of the dean of the African group head of the missions here, said the meeting was convened to look into the recent attacks against African students in Greater Noida.
"The meeting unanimously agreed that those accumulated attacks against Africans are xenophobic and racial in nature," they said.
Condemning the recent attacks, they expressed their deep concern and also noted that these "reprehensible events, both outstanding and unresolved cases against Africans, were not sufficiently condemned by the Indian authorities".
Students representatives of the Association of African Students in India also alleged apathy on the part of the state police department that "doesn't take their complaints seriously."
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"There are alot of people living in Africa peacefully. Nigeria alone has around 2 L Indians living there. We give them the best of treatment and hospitality. And when we come here we expect the same," said Okungi, a member of the Association of African Students in India.
"If this continues, we might have to call a boycott.", he added.
Speaking to Outlook, Association of African Students President Samuel Jack strongly condemned the recent attacks on African nationals. Distressed with the events that took place, he said " There are lot of Goondas in Uttar Pradesh, the mafia also exists and the government is aware of this. Punjab is also known as the drug capital. But every time something goes wrong, the Africans are called upon. "
India had, however, refused to categorize the attack as racial and said it is not correct to draw a conclusion on “the nature and the reason” of these acts.
On the alleged attack on a Kenyan woman, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said Kenyan diplomats had a meeting with officials of the ministry concerned and it has been conveyed to the Indian side that the reported incident “does not correspond with reality”.
Four Nigerian students were attacked by a group of Greater Noida residents who took out a candle-light march after a 17-year-old boy Manish died due to suspected drug overdose.
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The protest march was taken out after the police released some Nigerians detained for questioning in connection with death of Manish, a class 12 student, due to "lack of evidence".
(With inputs from PTI)
