Tanzanian girl stripped, beaten in Bengaluru; 'deeply pained' says Sushma

[email protected] (News Network)
February 3, 2016

Bengaluru, Feb 3: The African students in north Bengaluru closed ranks on Wednesday as details emerged of a mob of locals allegedly attacking and stripping a Tanzanian girl in the neighourhood on Sunday.

The 21-year-old girl who had been attacked met with top police officials on Wednesday to narrate what the mob had done to her. She gave her statement at the DCP's office in Peenya.tanzanian

As the details spread, community leaders were constantly in touch with their fellow nationals and relayed the safer routes they should take when commuting between their homes and colleges.

"We are now scared of every Indian around us after what happened to me," the 21-year-old student of a city college told mediapersons at Sapthagiri Hospital, where she was taken for a medical test by police.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj took note of the incident and tweeted, "We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru."

She asked the state government to ensure the safety and security of all foreign students.

Earlier, in a note verbale, Tanzania high commission asked the external affairs ministry to take strong legal action against those who assaulted the girl.

Bengaluru police on Wednesday registered a case under 354 IPC (outraging the modesty of a woman) against unidentified persons.

Four locals were taken into custody later in the evening.

The girl's nightmare unfolded around 7.30pm on Sunday when she and her three Tanzanian friends were going in a car in Ganapathinagar, off Hesaraghatta Main Road. Almost 2km away and about 30 minutes hour earlier, a car driven by a Sudanese student had run over Shabana Taj, 35, who had been walking with her husband, electrical contractor Sanaullah.

A mob allegedly comprising locals, who were rioting following the accident, stopped the girl's car. "We got out of the car and there were many people around. There was a policeman standing nearby and I asked him what had happened. He said nothing. A friends rushed to me and asked me not to walk around. By then, the mob started hitting him," she said.

"They pushed me around and hit me. I was wearing a T-shirt. They tugged at it and tore it, leaving me literally without anything. They continued to thrash us and we ran for our lives. My friends and I hopped onto a bus. The driver didn't move and the other passengers threw us out. We were at the mob's mercy. A passerby who offered me a T-shirt was also attacked. They thrashed us again till we took shelter near some shops," she said.

The mob, meanwhile, had set ablaze the car.

As they made their way to Sapthagiri Hospital, the mob chased them. Even at the hospital, the mob allegedly threatened to storm the hospital if the Africans were not sent out.

Police sources said they took the girl's statement on Wednesday, confirming there's been a three-day delay in acting on the incident.

African student leaders condemned the killing of the woman in an accident involving a Sudanese student but said the law should take its course. However, attacking innocent people based on their ethnicity should not be tolerated, they said, adding that the matter has been taken up with their embassies too.

"A woman has died and those responsible for the accident should be brought to book. But these students had nothing to do with it," said Bosco Kweesi, legal adviser to the African students.

A leader of the Tanzanian association, said she and some of her friends rushed to the police station Sunday night, seeking help to take their injured compatriots to hospital. "They plainly refused to come to our help or accept our complaint.. Police already had one of our fellow nationals who was in no way connected to the accident in their custody. A policeman told us that 'you all look alike and your fellow national will be set free only if you bring the guilty African car driver'," she said.

Comments

mohammad.n
 - 
Thursday, 4 Feb 2016

She asked the state government to ensure safety and security of all FOREIGN STUDENTS. What about indian students safety? What about indian ladies safety? What about justice for raped indian girls?

Worst ruling indian government, nothing less than a british rule before independence, worried about foreigners rather than the Indians which should be the most priority.

Mohammed SS
 - 
Thursday, 4 Feb 2016

Sushma Didi, show more and more pain as you want BJP govt. in Karnataka, there Is no such pain in your backyard for criminal acts and incidents where your party is ruling... apply Burnol deeply in to your backyard

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News Network
April 1,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 1: Karnataka government along with BBMP has asked project contractors, builders and developers in the city not to send their labourers to their native place and instead provide them with amenities like food and shelter in this lockdown period.

It was also warned with legal action would be taken against them if they violating the instructions from the government .

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News Network
March 10,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 10: A 75-year-old man who arrived in Kalaburagi from Saudi Arabia on February 29 has been admitted to the isolation ward at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) after he showed symptoms of coronavirus. 

His throat swab has been sent to the laboratory of Bengaluru’s Victoria Hospital. The district Health and Family Welfare Department is waiting for the report. 

The aged man who arrived from Saudi Arabia on February 28, was admitted to a private hospital on March 5 following fever and cough. As he showed the symptoms similar to coronavirus, the health of his family members has also been examined by the doctors and a close watch on them is being kept.

Recently, first confirmed positive case was reported from Whitefield in Bengaluru. The state government had also declared holiday for all primary schools in Bengaluru.

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News Network
April 5,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 5: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Saturday said the state government will double down for 100% compliance to the lockdown in the next 10 days, warning action against those found roaming the streets.

Dismissing reports of a shortage of ventilators, he said the state was bringing in reinforcements over the next few days and expressed relief that none of the Covid-19 patients of the state has required a ventilator so far.

"None of the Covid-19 patients are on ventilators; two of them require oxygen," Yediyurappa told reporters after he met ministers and MLAs of Bengaluru and apprised them of steps taken to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The CM said the government had placed orders for 1,570 ventilators, of which 17 have been supplied and another 20 would arrive by next week. The government has also ordered 18.3 lakh N-95 masks, of which more than 4 lakh have been supplied. To ensure a steady supply of hand sanitiser, manufacturing licences have been issued to 36 pharma companies and 29 distilleries.

While the state readies the medical infrastructure, the CM urged the legislators, cutting across party lines, to ensure full compliance to the lockdown. "If people fail to cooperate with the government and respect the nationwide lockdown, there will be no option but to enforce it in a more stringent manner from Sunday," he said.

As people continue to crowd markets amid growing fears of a shortage of essentials, the CM reiterated that all measures have been put in place to get the supply chain moving. 

He also assured that food will be provided to migrant workers and the poor. "There is enough stock of foodgrains and medicine in the state. The government has set a taskforce of ministers, 17 committees under additional chief secretaries, several helplines and a war room to fight the pandemic and they are all working round the clock," he said. 

The government has also issued direction to authorities to provide rations to those who do not have BPL or APL cards. Since many people from other states have settled in Bengaluru and they don't have ration cards, we have taken this decision," Yediyurappa said.

On reports of many private hospitals being closed and refusing to treat patients, the CM said: "We have already warned private hospitals to remain open and provide treatment to patients failing which strict action will be initiated."

Kisan Nidhi, 2 months' pension by April 10
The CM said an installment of Rs 2,000 under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and two months' pension under the various social security schemes will be credited to bank accounts of beneficiaries by April 10. 

The process of crediting subsidy to 15 lakh beneficiaries under Ujjwala Yojana is on, he said.

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