A 23-year-old Nigerian student has been hit with an iron rod in a suspected racist attack in Hydeeabad,south India just days after Africans protested increasing cases of racism targeting blacks in the Asian country.
Damilola Kazeem was allegedly hit by a man described as his neighbour following an argument over the use of a parking space in the area.
The suspect was subsequently detained .
The Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asked local authorities to probe the matter which came on the heels of African diplomats cancelling African Day celebrations.
The ministry’s spokesperson tweeted: “Reports of a Nigerian student injured in Hyderabad: EAM [External Affairs Ministry] @SushmaSwaraj has urgently sought report from state govt, is monitoring the case.”
Emmanuel Omurunga, chairman of the African Students Association in the state of Telangana, said: “The situation in India is no longer safe for us. Even the police are not willing to help us when we approach them.”
In a similar attack recently, a Congolese national, Masonda Ketada Oliver, was beaten to death by a local mob after an argument. Three men chased the man hurling stones.
