The horrific attack on a Syrian refugee and his 11-month-old son in West Delhi’s Vikaspuri, where they were doused with a corrosive substance, has reignited concerns about the safety of vulnerable refugee communities in India. The father and son were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where they received immediate medical care, with the child sustaining severe burns on his chest, neck, and eyes. A local resident, Rakesh Kumar, was arrested in connection with the assault, which appears to have stemmed from rising tensions between locals and refugees near the UNHCR office in the area.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Refugees and expatriates living in India have been the targets of violent attacks in recent years. In this case, the attack followed a verbal altercation between the refugees and the locals, reflecting a growing trend of xenophobia and intolerance toward foreign nationals, particularly those fleeing war-torn regions like Syria.
One notable example of an attack on foreigners in Delhi occurred in 2016 when Congolese national Masunda Kitada Olivier was brutally beaten to death by a group of locals in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area. The incident started as an argument over hiring an auto-rickshaw, which escalated into violence. Olivier, a teacher, was attacked with stones and a blunt object, leading to his death. This murder sparked outrage among African communities in India and raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals, particularly those from African countries, in Delhi.
Acid attacks have remained a persistent problem in India, despite government efforts to regulate the sale of corrosive substances. Refugees and expatriates, especially those from marginalised or politically vulnerable groups, are often at higher risk of such attacks, as they may be perceived as outsiders. Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and African nations have been particularly vulnerable, facing both legal and social challenges as they try to rebuild their lives in a foreign country.
In 2021, another high-profile case involved a group of Afghan refugees who were assaulted in South Delhi by a mob of local youths. The refugees, all young men, were reportedly targeted because of their nationality and appearance. They suffered serious injuries, but the incident drew little attention from law enforcement until videos of the attack went viral on social media.
Beyond these specific cases, data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates a disturbing rise in crimes against both Indian citizens and expatriates in major cities like Delhi. Refugees, often isolated from broader social networks, are particularly susceptible to these kinds of violent incidents, which frequently go underreported due to fear of further persecution or deportation.
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As refugees continue to seek safety in India from war-torn countries, the recent attack in Vikaspuri serves as a stark reminder of the dangers they face, even in exile.