On Monday, India termed as "unfortunate" the description of criminal act against Africans in the capital as "xenophobic and racial" by the African envoys. The attack on Africans was triggered after the death of a young Indian student.
Reacting to strong remarks by African envoys who had criticised India for not taking "known, sufficient and visible" deterrent action, the External Affairs Ministry on Monday said investigations on the death of Indian teenager and the subsequent incident by local authorities are ongoing.
Earlier, in a strong reaction to attacks on African nationals, heads of African missions in India termed the incidents as "xenophobic and racial" and asserted that no known, sufficient and visible deterring measures have been taken by the government.
The envoys, who recently held a "special" meeting on the incidents, 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.
A press release, dated 31 March from the office of the dean of the African group head of the missions here, said the meeting was convened to look into the recent attacks against African students in Greater Noida.
"The meeting unanimously agreed that those accumulated attacks against Africans are xenophobic and racial in nature," they said.
Condemning the recent attacks, they expressed their deep concern and also noted that these "reprehensible events, both outstanding and unresolved cases against Africans, were not sufficiently condemned by the Indian authorities".
There are missions of more than 50 African countries which are accredited to India.
Four Nigerian students were attacked by a group of Greater Noida residents who took out a candle-light march after a 17-year-old boy Manish died due to suspected drug overdose.
This prompted a call from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister seeking immediate action.
(With inputs from PTI)
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