Guest column: We need to educate the Africans about our Indian culture

We are explaining the process of deportation in detail to our officers, who lack knowledge and clarity on the subject. We are doing it for every crime -- meeting in a step-by-step process. Two sessions are already finished and the third one will be starting in a couple of days. This will ensure that all officers have a complete understanding of the procedure.

Police-African Students' Coordination Committee (PASCC), initiated by the city police, for the welfare of African students in the city, held discussions even at the Prime Minister's office in Delhi due to the rising crimes against African nationals in the national capital. They spoke with student leaders about what the police were doing to curb such incidents in the future.

The Congolese delegation, that visited me recently along with officials from the ministry were impressed with the initiatives taken by the city police for the welfare of the African community and they want to follow the same pattern in Delhi.  

We are in the process of organizing an African Cultural Festival to make locals break the ice with them and vice versa. However, the major task is to educate the African nationals about nightlife, Indian culture, the laws of the land, how to purchase vehicles legally, how to go about rental agreements with the locals, about what is considered a nuisance, how many decibels should loud music be, etc.

Also, whom to contact and approach if there is a sexual crime or a law and order situation. We are contemplating making a small handbook with all the above details and one book will be given to each foreigner who steps on our soil.

P.Harishekaran is Additional Commissioner of Police