India assures action against culprits involved in Tanzanian woman's assault case

Xinhua News Agency

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India Thursday said it would take legal action against the culprits involved into an assault on a Tanzanian woman in southern state of Karnataka.

The 21-year-old woman was assaulted and stripped on Sunday night by mob in Bengaluru city, after a student's car overran a local woman.

"India will extend full cooperation to investigate the case and stringent punishment will be given to the perpetrators," India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told media at a briefing.

The Tanzanian woman along with her three friends were attacked as their vehicle was passing through the accident site. The mob also set their vehicle on fire.

"The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought a detailed report from Commissioner of Bengaluru city related to the progress in the case," Swarup said.

According to Swarup, a team of India's External Affairs Ministry and High Commissioner of Tanzania would visit Bengaluru on Friday.

Sushma Swaraj has described the incident as shameful.

"We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru," Swaraj wrote on twitter. "I have asked the Chief Minister (of Karnataka) to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty."

Officials said they have registered a case and arrested four people in the case.

Reports said a rashly driven speedy car by a student ran over a local woman sleeping along the roadside on Sunday.

The death of the woman infuriated the locals, who torched the car while the student managed to escape.

Police officials in Bengaluru said the case should be seen as an isolated incident of road rage.

Meanwhile Swarup said India would ensure such incidents should not recur in future and safety measures will be taken.

Bengaluru is hub of many global software firms and home to hundreds of foreign students.

A large number of African students including Tanzanians are temporarily staying in the city for studying purposes.