African nationals protest in Bengaluru over death of man detained in drug case

According to the police, the African was detained for possessing five gms of Ecstasy pills and while in custody he complained of chest pain and cold. The police said they took the foreigner, who was studying in college, to a hospital where he died of a suspected cardiac arrest.

Bangalore: Police on Monday said they had to lathicharge some African nationals staging a demonstration here following the alleged custodial death of one of their fellow countryman.

According to the police, the African was detained for possessing five gms of Ecstasy pills and while in custody he complained of chest pain and cold. The police said they took the foreigner, who was studying in college, to a hospital where he died of a suspected cardiac arrest.

They said it was not a case of custodial death. After hearing this, a number of African nationals staged a protest in front of the police station where the accused was detained.

One of the protestors allegedly assaulted a policeman during the protest which led to the lathicharge, said the police.

Police have said they launched a crackdown on African nationals across the city and raided 65 houses on July 15 before arresting 38 foreigners for overstaying. Police said they had seized a huge quantity of narcotics from the foreigners.