4 more arrested for assaulting Nigerian man
NEW DELHI: Four more men were arrested on Tuesday for mercilessly beating a Nigerian man last month after he was allegedly caught “stealing” from a home in south Delhi’s Savitri Nagar.
On Monday, videos showing the man being beaten up were widely circulated on the net.
The number of people arrested in connection with the incident since Monday night has gone up to five. Krishan Kumar, in whose house the Nigerian man allegedly tried to burgle, was arrested on Monday night.
On Tuesday, the five accused were produced before a city court that sent them to Tihar jail for fourteen days.
The local court also extended the judicial custody of the Nigerian national, who police identified as Ahmad.
“We produced Ahmad before the court and sought permission to record his statement and question him about his passport and visa documents. We also wanted to know more about the September 24 incident. However, he did not cooperate at all. The court then extended his judicial custody,” said Ishwar Singh, deputy commissioner of police (south).
Investigators have now planned to visit Ahmad in the jail after seeking the court’s permission. Officials said that if Ahmad confirms the assault and explains the sequence of events, it would become easier for them to nail the attackers.
The police are also yet to confirm the claims that whether Ahmad suffered injuries when he jumped on the roof of an adjacent building after being caught redhanded in Krishan’s home.
Police said that until the videos of the mob assault emerged on Monday, they were unaware about it.
They said neither the victim Nigerian man nor Kumar or local residents mentioned it to them.
Police said besides Krishan, they arrested Sanjay, alias Montu, Kamal Kant, Mahavir, and Mukesh after identifying them in the mob assault video. “More people will be identified and arrested,” said the DCP.
In the videos shot on cellphones during the assault on September 24, a mob is seen punching, kicking, and beating Ahmad with sticks. The Nigerian national was tied to an electric pole. One of the clips shows the 24-year-old Ahmad begging the crowd 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 his feet with a stick. The man cries out aloud: “Forgive me.” But the crowd keeps thrashing him.
The videos prompted police to register a separate case of attempt to culpable homicide and wrongful restraint.