Bengaluru cops did nothing and fled when I was attacked, claims Tanzanian student

Bengaluru: The 21-year-old Tanzanian student, who was allegedly stripped, assaulted and paraded naked by an angry mob in Bengaluru, has claimed that the cops on duty did nothing to help her when she pleaded for help.

Categorically refuted the city police' claims, the Tanzanian girl said, "There were policemen around before the attacks began, but once they started beating us I do not know where they went."

She was quoted as telling CNN-IBN in a telephone conversion.

The African student made the statement hours after the Bengaluru police and the state government made contradictory statements regarding the incident.

She also appeared to be rejecting the suggestions of Karnataka ministers and police that it was not racist attack but a case of road rage.

"They saw us as Africans and started beating us," she was quoted as saying.

It was initially reported the African woman was assaulted, stripped and paraded naked by a mob in the outskirts of the city on Sunday, but the Karnataka government later denied she was paraded naked.

She also claimed that a large number of people who were present at the spot also attacked her friends, who were pleading for help. Five people were later arrested by the police and a case registered.

Meanwhile, a high-level delegation of the Ministry of External Affairs is scheduled to reach Bengaluru today to assess the situation on the ground.

The Tanzanian High Commissioner is also expected to accompany the MEA delegation.