K'taka Govt. must act against 'intolerable' illegal activities: Gowda

Union Law and Justice Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Friday said the attack on a Tanzanian student has come as an embarrassment for the nation and asked the Karnataka Government has to take some stringent measures in wake of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

"This is not only an embarrassment for the Bengalurians. This is an issue where in some international relationships are also attached to it. The law and order is a state subject. It is the responsibility of the state government to see that such things should not happen. We have seen since last two years there are several complaints of this nature has been brought before the state police and the state police has not acted on the complaints that they have received," Gowda told the media here.

"We are seeing each and every day either in the print media or electronic media that the students who have come from abroad for their study purpose, they are doing so much of illegal activities here it is intolerable," he added.

The former Karnataka chief minister also threw light on the fact that there are several foreign students in Bengaluru whose visa has expired.

"It is learnt that the state government has itself said that more than one thousand foreign students, whose visa has expired are still in Bengaluru. What are they doing? Is it not the responsibility to find out those people and intimate the Central Government or the External Affairs Ministry to send them out of the country?" he said.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara yesterday said that his department has taken the attack seriously and added that the state government was committed to ensuring the security of foreign students living in Karnataka.

Parameshwara also denied media reports that the girl was sexually assaulted.

Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a 21-year-old Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru.

The incident on Sunday night took a serious diplomatic turn with outrage building up over alleged mob violence.

The incident took place after a local woman was killed in accident caused by a car driven by a Sudanese student.

Array

While the mob beat up the Sudanese student and burnt his car, they also allegedly assaulted a Tanzanian woman who was passing by.

After public clamour and intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Karnataka Government has directed the crime department to take up the case and assured that strict action would be taken against the guilty.

Meanwhile, a central team will visit Bengaluru today along with the Tanzanian High Commissioner to ascertain facts on the ground.

The Centre's move has been prompted by the Tanzanian High Commission taking the matter seriously seeking strict legal action against the guilty.