In the wake of fresh cases of assault on African nationals here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today pressed for ensuring their safety as she spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh who has directed Delhi police to take strict action against the attackers and step up patrolling in the areas inhabited by the community.

Swaraj said a sensitisation campaign will be carried out in the areas where African nationals reside.

She has asked the Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retd) V K Singh and MEA Secretary Amar Sinha to meet the African students who have announced their programme to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday.

Police officials, meanwhile, said the persons accused in the Mehrauli attacks have been identified and they are expected to be nabbed very soon.

Two women — one from Uganda and the other from South Africa — and two Nigerian men have filed complaints of physical assault and criminal intimidation.

Significantly, the government has decided to transport back home the mortal remains of Congolese national, whose killing here earlier this month had triggered anger among the African countries whose envoys had unitedly threatened to boycott the Africa Day celebrations of the Indian government last week, before they were persuaded against it.

In the wake of fresh cases of assault on Africans, the External Affairs Minister spoke to the Home Minister as well as Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who is directly in-charge of Delhi police and said both assured her that the culprits will be arrested soon.

“I have spoken to Shri Rajnath Singh ji and Lt Governor Delhi reg(arding) attack on African nationals in South Delhi yesterday. They assured me that the culprits will be arrested soon and sensitisation campaign will be launched in areas where African nationals reside,” Swaraj said in tweets.

“I have asked Gen V K Singh, MoS and Secretary Amar Sinha to meet# African students who have announce(d) demonstration at Jantar Mantar,” she added in another tweet.

Sinha, MEA Secretary (Economic Relations), has been in touch with African community following the attacks.

The Home Minister called Delhi police chief Alok Kumar Verma to his residence and expressed concern over the attacks.

“Spoke to Commissioner of Police, Delhi regarding the incidents of physical assault against certain African nationals. Such incidents are condemnable,” Rajnath Singh tweeted later.

“Instructed CP Delhi to take strict action against the attackers and increase patrolling in these areas to ensure security of everyone,” he said in another tweet.

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