Violent protests have erupted in Delhi’s Tilak Nagar following the death of a Nigerian man at Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital.
The protesters, mainly Nigerians, accused the police of being responsible for the death of Leohand Lyeanyi. They, including the victim’s kin, alleged that the man died due to assault by the police.
But the police maintained that Mr Lyeanyi, 43, died after sustaining head injury due to a fall.
Police said the protesters created a ruckus and broke glasses at the hospital on Sunday following the Nigerian’s death. Initially, they were around 20 to 30 people, but their numbers increased to 100. The mob also attacked the local people and police personnel, police added.
“Lyeanyi died because a Delhi police personnel hit him with a lathi on his head. He lost consciousness and fell to the ground,” Jose Giddy, kin of the deceased told The Federal.
The police maintained that the victim was not hit by them and his medico-legal case (MLC) report showed no external injury on the body. The post-mortem report is being awaited.
Police also said that they have found CCTV footage in which the victim could be seen stepping out of an auto-rickshaw and sitting near a shop. He then collapsed, hitting his head on the ground. There was nobody around him, they said.
There are over 2,500 Nigerians living in Delhi, according to estimates.
