KINSHASA: Mob Attacks Indian Businesses In Congo Amid Furore Over Student’s Death

KINSHASA: A mob attacked Indian businesses
and vehicles in Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital on Thursday, the police
said, part of ongoing fallout from a Congolese student’s death in Bangalore
police custody last week.

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 Dehli.

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.

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

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

Malu was
arrested in Bangalore on August 1 on suspicion of drug possession. 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.