NEW DELHI: Days after a 23-year-old Congolese youth was beaten to death by three men in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said some shops of Indians in Congo were attacked possibly in retaliation to the murder.

In a statement quoted by the Indian Express, the MEA said, “Some shops of Indians were attacked and some have been injured, possibly in reaction to the murder of Congolese student in Delhi. Our embassy in Congo is in touch with local authorities and as of now things have calmed down. India’s relations with Congo go back many years.”

The statement noted that thousands of African students continue to benefit “from the Indian education system and we will ensure full safety to them”.

Outraged over the recent killing of a Congolese national, African countries have demanded concrete steps against “racism and Afro-phobia” and sought deferment of the celebrations of Africa Day by India, which on Wednesday assured them of safety and security of their nationals, the Express said.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016