Tanzanian girl assault case has tarnished India's image: BJP

Asserting that the attack on a Tanzanian student in Bengaluru has tarnished India's image in the global community, the BJP on Friday said it is very strange that Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the state administration is trying to justify the failure instead of focusing on improving the law and order situation.

BJP leader Zafar Islam said it is highly condemnable that the Home Minister himself is revealing the victim's identity.

"He should have restrained, under no circumstances he should have revealed the identity of the victim. Bengaluru has lost its charm purely because of this barbaric incident. The image of India has been tarnished in the global community. And the Home Minister as well as the entire administration is trying to justify the failure, it's very strange," Islam told ANI here.

"They should focus on improving the law and order situation in the state and the security of the other foreign nationals, who are studying in the state of Karnataka," he added.

In what came as a surprise to everybody, the Karnataka Home Minister named the victim during his press conference in Bengaluru yesterday.

Parameshwara 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.

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.