Tanzanian woman assault: Will Bengaluru police face the heat for standing idle?

Tanzanian woman had alleged that the police refused to take her complaint on Sunday
Tanzanian woman assault: Will Bengaluru police face the heat for standing idle?
Tanzanian woman assault: Will Bengaluru police face the heat for standing idle?
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Following public outcry over the brutal assault on 21-year-old Tanzanian woman by a Bengaluru mob, questions are now being raised on the dereliction of duty and delay in action by the Bengaluru police, who took the victim’s complaint almost three days after the mob outraged her modesty in Hesaraghatta in north Bengaluru.

The incident had sparked furore after following media reports, and she  had alleged that the police refused to take her complaint on Sunday. The car she came in was also set ablaze by the mob.

Police have registered a case under section 354 of the IPC (outraging the modesty of a woman) against unidentified persons.  Four persons have been arrested in connection with the arson case where two cars were burnt.

According the victim, she was assaulted and her car was set ablaze by the locals, after a local woman was killed by a car driven by a Sudanese man on February 1.  An angry mob had attacked the Tanzanian national who reached the accident spot 30 minutes after incident took place.  

All African Students Union's Legal Adviser, Bosco Kaweesi said that she was stripped by a section of the mob.

Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj tweeted, “We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru."

"I have asked the Chief Minister to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty," she said in another tweet.

Kaweesi said that there is tension in the area and that the police are not doing enough to ease it.

“The road where the incident took place has been cordoned off and the students are forced to take a different route to college. No auto-rickshaw driver is ferrying African students. If the police had taken timely action, the road would be safe for the African students to walk on. Since Sunday they are stranded in their rooms,” Kaweesi said.

BJP leader Suresh Kumar said that the incident was a reminder of Draupadi being disrobed by Kauravas and police standing by like a helpless Dhritharashtra. “There is laxity in law and order situation in the Bengaluru and it would severely affect the growth of the city. The personnel who were responsible should be questioned and taken to task,” he said.

 "This incident has damaged the image of Bengaluru as a cosmopolitan city. It calls for a mechanism to clear misapprehensions about the foreign students among locals. There is definitely some misunderstanding and police should help clear it,” Suresh Kumar added.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekar said that it was shocking that police stood idle when the mob was assaulting the woman. He urged the government to suspend police for aiding and abetting crimes.

“There is no place in our city for criminals and mobs, and police who stand idle when crimes are being committed. Chief Minister Siddaramiah, Home Minister Dr Parameshwara should order Commissioner of Police to charge criminals with attempt to murder, and suspend police personnel and try them for aiding and abetting the crime. This is a shame for our city and our people, especially at a time when government is trying to attract investments and investors. I demand strictest action and response from government,” Chandrashekar said.

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