Police tighten vigil, reassure African students

BENGALURU: The roads leading to Acharaya Institute situated on the city’s outskirt was brimming with activity on Thursday morning following the visit of Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash and city Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik to Ganapathi Nagar, where the arson and mob attacks took place on Sunday night.

The two senior police officers sought details on the progress of the case and also visited Soladevanahalli police station to supervise the investigation. Tension prevailed in Ganpathipura after the area witnessed deployment of police personnel in large numbers.

While patrolling has been intensified in the area to ensure law and order, good number of policemen have been asked to keep a vigil on the nearby areas, as there are hundreds of foreign students staying in and around Soladevanahalli, as many educational institutions are located nearby. Meanwhile an eerie silence prevailed in Acharya Institute campus situated in Hesaraghatta remained after Sunday night attack, where a 21-year-old Tanzanian architecture student was mobbed and stripped after she became the target of mob fury.

The jurisdictional police held a brief meeting with the foreign students on Thursday morning and they were assured of their security. Bwalya Mugala, a foreign student with Acharya Institute of Technology told this newspaper, “We were advised by the college authorities to stay indoors for two days following Sunday night. We were shaken and scared to step out of our houses and hostels. But, after the assurance from senior police officials, we are little relieved.”

Ever since the attack happened the institute has recorded a low attendance of African students. There are around 3,000 African students in and around Hesaraghatta, studying in the three colleges - Sapthagiri College, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology and Acharya Institute.

Call from PMO

Dr H.D. Maheshappa, Principal, Acharya Institute of Technology said, “The Institute received a call from Prime Minister Office and from the officials of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Thursday morning sought details regarding the assault on Tanzanian student. An official from Tanzanian High Commission and a team of officials from Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) met with the students and urged them to rejoin classes.”