Attacks on Africans in Greater Noida were racial: African missions in India

The recent attacks on African nationals in Greater Noida have been widely condemned and criticised by Indian as well as African govt. Now, African missions in India has reacted strongly and called the attacks "xenophobic and racial."

The envoys, who recently held a "special" meeting on the incident, called for an independent investigation by the Human Rights Council as well as other human rights bodies and also to comprehensively report the matter to the Commission of the African Union.

They said they expected a strong condemnation from the highest political level both nationally and locally.

A press release dated March 31 from the office of the dean of the African group head of the missions in India, said the meeting was convened to look into the recent attacks againstAfrican students in Greater Noida.

Read More: Attack on Africans: India refuses to categorise as racial

"The meeting unanimously agreed that those accumulated attacks against Africans are xenophobic and racial in nature," visible deterring they said.

They reviewed the incidents that have taken place in the past and concluded that no known and visible deterring measures were taken by the Indian government, it said.

Condemning the recent attacks, they expressed their deepconcern and also noted that these "reprehensible events, bothoutstanding and unresolved cases against Africans, were notsufficiently condemned by the Indian authorities".

There are missions of more than 50 African countrieswhich are accredited to India.

Four Nigerian students were attacked by a group ofGreater Noida residents who took out a candle-light march lastafter a 17-year-old boy Manish died due to suspected drugoverdose.

The protest march was taken out after the police releasedsome Nigerians detained for questioning in connection withdeath of Manish, a class 12 student, due to "lack ofevidence."