Congolese student's death: Six African nationals injured during protest

AT LEAST six nationals of African countries were injured during scuffle with police in India’s southern Bangalore city over the alleged custodial death of a Congolese student, an official said.

Joel Shindani Malu, 27, was detained by police on Sunday (1) over charges of possessing a small cache of banned psychotropic ecstasy pills, but died in custody early Monday after suffering cardiac arrest, an officer said.

“He was diagnosed with Bradycardia and was administered with several rounds of CPR and other life-saving interventions but died due to a suspected cardiac arrest,” the officer said.

Following his death, several nationals of African countries staged a demonstration outside the police station and scuffled with policemen, which led to the assault of an officer.

The demonstrators refuted the police claim that Malu had died of cardiac arrest and accused them of falsely detaining him before police used batons to push back the protesters and arrested a dozen demonstrators.

Local media reported that the protestors were members of the "Pan African Federation", a group set up to protect the rights of African students and professionals in the city.

Police said they have opened an inquest into the death amid claims that the deceased student was illegally living in India after his passport and visa expired in 2017.

"Joel Shindani Malu was arrested overnight on suspicion of possessing drugs," Bangalore Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said on Twitter.

"Investigation into the death is being conducted as per NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) guidelines including inquest by a judicial magistrate. The investigation has been transferred to CID (Crime Investigation Department)."

Nationals of African countries often accuse Indian police of racial bias and harassment.