Delhi Police on Monday said they had launched a probe after a video went viral showing a group of men thrashing an African national who had been tied to a rope in the capital after an alleged robbery attempt.
The video showed the man, believed to be from Nigeria, surrounded by several people and getting beaten with canes while others kicked and slapped him. Eventually, the African started to bleed profusely from the head.
A stain of blood was seen on the wall where the incident occurred.
Police said they were investigating the brutal assault which which took place in Malviya Nagar in south Delhi. Delhi is home to hundreds of African students.
A police officer said the incident may be related to a September 24 attempted robbery in which some people in Malviya Nagar registered an FIR against an apparent African, identified as Ahmed, son of Aliyo.
Police said Krishan Kumar, a resident of Savitri Nagar in Malviya Nagar, filed the FIR against Ahmed on the night of September 24-25.
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Kumar claimed he saw the African man trying to unlock the door of his cupboard. He added that he and his brothers chased him as he tried to escape but the man slipped from the stairs, injuring himself in the head.
Kumar reportedly informed the police after which Ahmed was taken to a hospital.
A black colour bag having two keys, a plier and two mobile phones were recovered from Ahmed, according to the FIR. A case of theft was registered against Ahmed.
Earlier this year, attacks targeting Africans in Delhi and Noida were described by envoys of African countries as "xenophobic and racial".
In two attacks caught on camera in April, four Nigerians were assaulted by a large group of people taking out a candlelight march at Greater Noida to denounce the death of a boy due to suspected drug overdose. A Nigerian student was also beaten inside a mall.
--IANS
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