EXCLUSIVE: Woman Assault in Bengaluru Creates Ripples in Tanzanian Parliament; Indian Envoy Summoned

Augustine Olle, the Kasulu Rural MP who has previously studied in Bengaluru noted that assaults on Tanzanians is common occurrence in India.

Situation became sensitive after a foreign national in his car mowed down a 35 year old woman in Hesaraghatta in Bengaluru on Sunday. The angry mob put fire to the car later. | EPS

The Tanzanian woman assault has triggered a heated response from MP's across the East African country. In a strong reaction to the harassment of a 21-year-old BBA student from Tanzania, MP's in Dodoma urged their government to demand a precise statement from New Delhi so that people of their country understand the truth. The MP's pressurised the Tanzanian leadership to send a strong protest note to the Indian government condemning the attack. The concerned politicians also requested their government to ensure better security for Tanzanian students in India.

Related: Tanzanian Girl Attack: So What Really Happened That Night? Not Racism? Was She Beaten Up Because She Was Black?  Tanzanian Girl Case: Stripped, Shamed or Outraged? And What Difference Does It Make? Tanzanian Girl was Not Stripped Says Home Minister and DGP Five Arrested for Assaulting Tanzanian Woman in Bengaluru

Augustine Olle, the Kasulu Rural MP who has previously studied in Bengaluru for four years notified the Tanzanian government that assaults on their nationals is common occurrence in India and proposed that the issue should hence be dealt with seriously. "It is very unfortunate that while we encourage diversity in Tanzania and we live in peace with people of various races, the situation is very different in India where Tanzanians are subjected to serious abuse," he said while addressing the parliament. 

The uproar caused by the Tanzanian MP's have led to five people being arrested in connection with the case. Media reports also suggested that the Bengaluru Police are questioning many others regarding the same.

Meanwhile this political furor has also promoted the Permanent Secretary in the Tanzanian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Ramadhani Mwinyi to summon the India envoy in Dar es Salaam. He met with the Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania Mr. Sandeep Arya and asked him to convey a message to the Indian government to ensure that such incidents don't happen again. Mr. Mwinyi also advised that the Indian government should step up security of Tanzanian nationals in India and provide constant updates about the ongoing case. He also added that the Tanzanian High Commissioner to India Mr. John Kijazi will soon be travelling to Bengaluru to follow-up on the case closely.  

In a shocking incident that has raked up the debate about racism in India, a 21-year old Tanzanian student was brutally beaten up, stripped and paraded naked by an angry mob that also torched her car and assaulted her male friends in Bengaluru.