Attack on Nigerian student: DGP refutes racial angle

Hyderabad, May 31: Telangana Director General of Police Anurag Sharma today refuted any racial angle behind the last week's incident in the city wherein a Nigerian student was assaulted by a local resident.

"It was a dispute which occurred at spur of the moment regarding parking of a vehicle...it is not a racial incident nor (any such) intention is involved in this," Sharma told reporters here. "...still we assure all the communities and all the students, who come from other countries to Hyderabad and Telangana, of their safety and security," the DGP said.

"In this particular case, the accused has been arrested. All the sections of the society will get equal protection from police force and we would ensure that," Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy said.

The DGP and Hyderabad Police Commissioner were responding to queries regarding assault on a 23-year-old Nigerian student, who received head injuries after a man in his neighbourhood hit him with a rod following a dispute over car parking in Banjara Hills area here on Wednesday last.

Reacting to a query on Maoist activities in the state, the Telangana Police Chief said, "Maoist activities have come down to a large extent in the state.

However, the ultras come in from neighbouring states into Telangana and we are alert and search parties are patrolling the areas in Khammam, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts bordering neighbouring states."

"Anything that is democratic is welcome...but, persons who do not believe in democracy and democratic ways we also cannot tolerate that," he warned. Reacting to another query, the DGP said, "We do not support anybody (in police force) who is corrupt and who misbehaves...wherever such cases have come to our notice we have taken stringent action.

We do not tolerate any corruption." A delegation led by Sharma had recently visited the UK and the US to study the best practises being adopted by the police there. "We conducted a study tour and focus was on technology usage by police," the DGP said adding that a report will be submitted to the government in this regard.

PTI