India probes attack on 26-year-old Nigerian student in Hyderabad

India's foreign ministry says it is looking into an alleged attack on
a Nigerian student by a local man in the southern city of
Hyderabad. 26-year-old Bamilola Kazim was allegedly assaulted by
Mohammed Gafoor after a row on Wednesday, May 25. He was
treated for wounds at a local hospital and released.

Last week a student from the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Masunda Kitada Oliver was beaten to death by a group of Indian
men after an argument in Delhi.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the killing of the
Congolese man.

ndian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted on
Friday that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj "had urgently sought
report" on Wednesday's incident from the local government "and is
monitoring the case".

Police said Mr Kazim allegedly parked his car in front of Mr
Gafoor's house, and was attacked with an iron rod by the latter
after an altercation.

Hyderabad police officer K Srinivas told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi
that the two men had "reached some understanding" after Mr
Gafoor was arrested and released on bail.
Gideon Omodowale of the local Nigerian Students Association said it
was a "small issue".

"He [Mr Gafoor] has apologised and we have also forgiven him. It
happens," he told the BBC.

Following last week's killing of an African student in Delhi, a group
of African embassies had said they did not want to participate in
Africa Day celebrations on Thursday because of repeated attacks
on African students in India.

"This is because the African community in India, including
students, are in a state of mourning in memory of the slain African
students in the last few years, including Mr Oliver," said Alem
Tsehage Woldermariam, Dean of African Group of Heads of Mission.
They later relented after Ms Swaraj promised to ensure the safety
of African students in India. He said the Indian government had
received news from its embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of
Democratic Republic of Congo, that some "Indian establishments
and shops were attacked on 23 and 25 May as a reaction perhaps to
the killing of the Congolese national" in Delhi.

"It has been reported that by Wednesday, things have calmed
down," Mr Swarup was quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have not yet
commented on the remarks.

Source: BBC News