Bengaluru: 4 Africans allege attack by mob, cops say 'minor incident'

Bengaluru: Four African nationals were allegedly attacked by a mob at Byrathi here after locals were reportedly "annoyed" with them for creating "nuisance" in the area.

The attack took place when we were returning home, John, an African national said, adding, he has received multiple injuries.

"The mob attacked us around 12:30 am and it continued till 3 am. The incident took place when I with three others friends were returning home. I was chased and beaten up. I sustained multiple injuries," he said.

John said they did not know why they were assaulted, even as the police denied any assault in the incident, which took place on the intervening night of March 9 and 10 at Byrathi near Kothanur in north-east Bengaluru.

Police, who were initially tight-lipped about the incident, maintained it was a verbal duel, which resulted in "incidents of pushing and jostling."

"I was there at the Kothanur police station. I interacted with the African nationals and they told me that it was a minor incident, and there was no attack on them," Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar told PTI.

The Africans do not want to file a case, he added. However, police would take suo motu cognisance of the reported multiple injuries sustained by John and find out whether he suffered those injuries during the attack, Mr Kumar said.

"We will take suo motu cognisance of the alleged injuries sustained by John and find out the truth," he added.