Mob Loots Indian Shops In Congo Amid Furore Over Student's Death In Bengaluru: What We Know

A mob attacked Indian businesses and vehicles in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital on August 12. The police said that this is a part of the ongoing fall out from a Congolese student's death in Indian police custody last week.

Joel Shindani Malu, 27, was arrested by the Bengaluru police on August 1 on charges of possessing drugs. He died the next day in custody.

PTI

Racism in India

Several Indian businesses in Kinshasa were looted last week following the death of Joel Malu, a Congolese student in Bangalore. African diplomats have complained in the past about racism against their citizens living in India, especially in the aftermath of the beating death in 2016 of a Congolese man in Delhi.

Congo's police said the mob on Thursday looted Indian shops and warehouses, set a car on fire and stoned three other vehicles in Kinshasa's Limete neighbourhood in response to a false rumour that a second Congolese national had died in India.

AFP

"Uncivilized people, mainly young people, have been looting stores and warehouses held by Indian nationals," said Kinshasa police commissioner Sylvano Kasongo.

3 held, 40 bales of stolen clothing recovered

Police arrested three people and recovered 40 bales of stolen clothing, Kasongo said. The statement did not mention any injuries.

The police said he complained of chest pains and was transferred to hospital, where he died. His death sparked clashes between protesters and baton-wielding officers in Bangalore the following day.

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A senior police official had said that Malu died of cardiac arrest and there were no physical injuries, The Times of India reported. However, protestors alleged that he was beaten up by the police.

Clashes, protest and slogans chanted

On August 3, a protest following Malu¡¯s death sparked clashes between several foreigners and the police outside the JC Nagar police station in Bengaluru. The clashes started after the protestors allegedly abused and tried to snatch batons from police personnel, according to witnesses who spoke to The News Minute.

The police then resorted to baton charge, resulting in injuries to many protestors.

AFP

Earlier on August 3, around 20 people from various African countries had gathered outside the JC Nagar police station to protest against Malu¡¯s death. They blocked traffic and chanted slogans related to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Protests related to the anti-racial discrimination movement, Black Lives Matter, gained traction across the world following the death of African-American man George Floyd, who was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a police officer in United States¡¯ Minnesota, in May last year.

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Chauvin was sentenced to prison for 270 months in June. In India, there have been multiple reports of people from African countries facing racial prejudice and violence.