Greater Noida attack: Day after violence, African students across city speak out

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“When we had first come to India a few years back, the attacks on us were mostly sporadic incidents committed by individuals. But what is happening in Greater Noida right now is scary, with mobs taking part in it,” said Ezeugo Lawrence, who is pursing a medicine degree from one of capital’s private medical colleges.

Another student also voiced similar sentiments. “There is a big gulf between Indians and Africans in terms of culture. We realise that but we have to bridge that gap. We are holding various events like cultural exchanges and cultural fests to bridge this gap and they are yielding results, but sadly that is not enough,” said the student.

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An organisation of African students in Delhi was interacting with the media where the students voiced concerns about severe societal bias against the entire community.

“Locals have to be sensitised. How can we engage with Indians if they continue to harbour so many stereotypes against us? We are neither cannibals, nor drug dealers,” said Samual Jack, the president of the Associations of African Students in India.

“We receive so many assurances from the government that these attacks will stop, but these are never implemented,” said Jack, a postgraduate student of Delhi University.

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The media interaction came to a halt suddenly when two policemen from Vasant Kunj police station appeared in the park in Vasant Vihar and asked the African students if they had taken permission to hold the press interaction. “We have received complaints from residents of the locality, please end it,” said a policeman.