Locals in Noida blame Nigerian students but this guard has a different story to tell
The attack on Nigerian students in Greater Noida has hogged the headlines, forcing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the matter with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Locals have alleged that the African students indulge in "unlawful activities" and "supply drugs" to students.
However, when Catch reached the NSG society where the African students reside, the guard narrated a different story.
"African students living in our society never misbehaved with anyone, and always kept to themselves," says Anirudh Singh who has been working as a security guard at NSG society for the last three months.
"Two African girls living here never came out of their home unnecessarily and I never noticed anyone visiting them," Anirudh further added.
Following the incident, most of the African students in Greater Noida preferred to remain indoors. We tried to contact some African students, but none of them responded to our calls.
The incident:
On the night of 25 March, 17-year-old student Manish Khari of NSG society died under suspicious circumstances. The victim's family alleged that their neighbour, who were Nigerian, forced the student to take drugs, reported NDTV.
Post the untimely demise of the young student, the society protested against the Nigerian community and demanded that they should not be allowed to stay in Greater Noida.
On 27 March, a video emerged on social media, which shows locals thrashing African nationals in Ansal Plaza.
Soon after the upload, the video went viral on the internet.
The video, which was shot via mobile camera, was uploaded by the Association of African Students in India (Facebook.)
Foreign Ministry intervenes:
African students are seriously concerned about their safety and requested the External Affairs Minister to intervene immediately.
@SushmaSwaraj as an international student in noida, you need to act fast as living for us in Noida is becoming a life threatening issue
— Sadiq Bello (@Sadiq8800) March 28, 2017
Assuring the Association of African Students in India, Swaraj asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to investigate the incident.
I have spoken to Yogi Adityanath ji Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh about attack on African students in Greater Noida. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 28, 2017
He has assured that there will be a fair and impartial investigation into this unfortunate incident. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 28, 2017
Advisory issued by Association of African Students in India
"ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION !!!
ALL AFRICAN STUDENTS STUDYING IN GREATER NOIDA ARE HERE BY INSTRUCTED TO STAY HOME UNTIL PROPER SECURITY IS PROVIDED TO SECURE OUR LIVES. ALSO, YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO ATTEND ANY LECTURE UNTIL WE ARE GRANTED MAXIMUM SECURITY."
First published: 28 March 2017, 16:11 IST