Cries of racism after video of mob attack in Delhi goes viral

in the footage, the man, who has been identified as “Ahmed” by Indian media, is tied to a pole by his ankles. One man holds up his feet so that another can strike his bare soles repeatedly with canes. Police say that the attack actually took place on September 24, but footage of the incident only came to light on Monday. It took place in Malviya Nagar, a locality in South Delhi. The Nigerian man who was attacked was allegedly caught burgling a house. Krishna Kumar, the owner of the house, tied him up before thrashing him. Police have since arrested five of the attackers, and have kept the Nigerian man in custody as well on suspicion of theft.

Police deny that the attack was racially motivated. NDTV reported that Ishwar Singh, the district police chief, said, "There is no indication of a racial attack. The Nigerian Embassy was informed about the arrest of Nigerian national Ahmed before he was sent in judicial custody by a court here till Tuesday". Dependra Pathak, the spokesperson for Delhi police, told the Press Trust of India, "It is a case of attempted burglary. Those living in the house got alerted. They caught him and beat him up." He added that the Nigerian man was "medically examined as he had injuries".
 

Eventually, the Nigerian man rolls over onto his knees, and tries to crawl away from the men armed with sticks, but they keep hitting him. In the video there appear to be at least four different men who take turns to assault the man. A crowd has gathered to watch the attack.

In March, a dozen African students were attacked by mobs in Greater Noida, east of Delhi, after an Indian student died in an unrelated incident. They were accused of killing him with a deliberate drug overdose and of cannibalism.