Nigerian man tied to pole, beaten by mob in Delhi
VIDEO GOES VIRAL Clip shows 24yearold begging to let him go amid volley of blows
NEWDELHI:A mob in south Delhi is seen punching, kicking and beating with sticks a Nigerian man tied to a lamp post, in videos shot during the brutal assault last month after he was accused of burglary.
A clip shows 24-year-old Ahmad begging to let him go amid a volley of blows landing on his bloodied face. A second video shows an attacker holding his legs and another man hitting with a stick. The man cries out aloud: “Forgive me.” But the crowd keeps thrashing him.
Another shot show a woman hitting him with a slipper. A man is then seen shouting that he had found ~6,000 in the Nigerian’s pocket. The third clip shows a bloodstained wall. The attackers can be heard threatening to cut his private parts.
The attack in Savitri Nagar happened on September 24 but police swung into action after the three videos surfaced on Monday.
Cops arrested a man, identified as Krishan Kumar, who accused the Nigerian of breaking into his home and stealing cash and valuables. Ahmad, who lives in south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, was turned in after the assault. He was arrested and sent to Tihar Jail as police said they had no clue about the assault.
The videos prompted police to register a separate case of assault. People involved in the attack will be identified and punished, an officer promised.
But residents of the area justified the “mob justice”, saying burglars need a beating as thefts were increasing in the locality.
Allegations of racially-motivated attack also surfaced after the videos circulated on social media. But special commissioner of police Dependra Pathak denied the charges.
“It was a case of attempted theft and the suspect was caught by locals. The incident was reported to Malviya Nagar police. A case was registered on house owner Krishan Kumar’s complaint and the accused was medically examined as he had injuries,” Pathak said.
Ahmad has lacerated wounds but allegedly didn’t reveal to police how he got them. Besides, the cops haven’t been able to ascertain what he is doing in India.
Deputy commissioner of police (south) Ishwar Singh said they were alerted about a theft in Savitri Nagar “in the intervening night of September 23-24” and an African man was handed to the team that reached there soon after.
“A wire cutter and a bag with master keys were found on the suspect. Initially, he refused to reveal his identity. Later he said he is Ahmad, a citizen of Nigeria,” the officer said.
The Nigerian embassy has been informed about his arrest.