Bengaluru/New Delhi: Amidst the outrage over the alleged assault and stripping of a 21-year-old Tanzanian woman, the Karnataka government on Thursday said five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident but denied that she was paraded naked.
As the incident on Sunday night took a serious diplomatic turn, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "Case has been registered, five of them (accused) have been arrested. Sushma Swaraj also spoke to me, I will also be sending her a report through my Chief Secretary," he told reporters at a global investors meet in Bengaluru.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara refuted reports that the Tanzanian woman was paraded naked saying, "No such thing happened". It was "definitely not a race attack", he said.
Voicing concern over the incident, the Union Home Ministry asked the state government to give a detailed report about the circumstances leading to the assault of the Tanzanian woman, action taken against those allegedly involved in it and steps taken for the protection of the victim.
The Tanzanian woman student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car here. She was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot with the miscreants mistaking them to have
caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said.
Facing flak over the incident, Siddaramaiah said he has asked the police to conduct an inquiry on why a complaint was not lodged immediately.
In Delhi, Tanzanian High Commissioner John WH Kijazi said he had sent a complaint to the Government and sought prompt action against those behind the "unfortunate" incident. He urged the government to reinforce security in localities where African students were staying. "We request the Government of India to ensure safety and security of our students in Bengaluru and all other places in India," he said.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has sought a report from the Karnataka government, according to party General Secretary Digvijay Singh, in charge of Congress affairs in the state.
"Rahul Gandhi asks Karnataka Govt to explain and send report immediately," Singh said in a series of tweets. But asked if the Congress high command has sought a report, Siddaramaiah said, "Why will high command seek report on everything? It is you people who are saying..."
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