Will act tough against culprits: Police

NOIDA:Police have nabbed seven people and booked over 300 others in connection with racial attacks launched on African nationals in Greater Noida on Monday evening.

Police registered three FIRs in the violence and slapped sections 307 (attempt to murder), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting using deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 364 (kidnapping) on the people who resorted to violence during a candlelight march.

In the backdrop of the attacks, security was beefed up to prevent a recurrence of violence.

At least 200 additional police personnel were deployed in all sectors of Greater Noida, special instructions have been issued to secure residential societies with African population.

An uneasy calm prevailed at Pari Chowk and Ansal Plaza, where Africans were attacked, on Tuesday even as policemen stood around to ensure peace.

“A strict vigil was in place throughout the night, and several police teams were deployed at different junctions in Greater Noida to observe movement of people,” said an intelligence officer.

Recounting the horrors on Monday evening, a pan kiosk owner, Rohit Sharma, told HT that hundreds of men carried out a candlelight march to Pari Chowk and sat at the junction for over an hour. At the fall of dusk, some men were seen raising slogans against Africans and turned angry at the sight of some Africans.

Sharma said, “The protesters caught hold of an African man in front of gate no 2 of Ansal Plaza, and thrashed him. The mob then barged into the shopping complex and beat up more Africans. They threw bottles at Africans.”

A Honda City car was damaged by the mob in front of the shopping complex.

Kasna SHO, Avnish Dixit said, “Following the scuffle that took place last evening, we have taken all necessary steps to ensure safety of African nationals.”

“We had also held a few persons responsible for violence and disruption and due course of action is being followed,” the police officer said.

Sending out a clear warning, Sujata Singh, the superintendent of police (rural), said that those who have violated law and order would not be allowed to roam around freely. She said, “We are investigating the matter very seriously and viewing each and every video footage, to grab the scandalous groups quickly. So far seven have been booked.”

The police and district administration will hold a meeting with RWAs in Greater Noida, representatives of the Association of African Students in India, representatives of colleges on Tuesday afternoon, Singh said.

On Tuesday evening, some Greater Noida residents took out a flag march as a confidence building measure.