Congolese youth murder: Sushma assures African community safety

New Delhi: In the wake of the brutal killing of Congo national youth in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj on May 20. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said she has asked her colleague and Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) VK Singh to meet the heads of missions of African countries in the national capital and assure them of government’s commitment to safety and security of African nationals in India.

The African heads of mission held a meeting on Tuesday regarding the incident following which they issued a statement seeking strong action from the government.

Swaraj tweeted. “I have asked my colleague Gen VK Singh to meet the heads of missions of African countries in Delhi and assure them of Indian Government’s commitment to the safety and security of African nationals in India.”

She added.”We will request State Governments to depute Commissioners of Police in all such meetings. We will also launch a sensitization program to reiterate that such incidents against foreign nationals embarrass the country.”

Oliva 23, was beaten to death with sticks and stones by three youths around 11.30 p.m. on Friday after a verbal altercation over the hiring of an auto-rickshaw near Kishangarh village in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi.

The African diplomatic community said that they would stay away from this year’s Africa Day celebrations seeking strong action on the part of the Indian government.

Swaraj also said that she has asked Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najib Jung to take steps and ensure that this case was tried by a fast track court.

“Jung has assured me that he will take immediate action in this regard,” she said.