There is a huge controversy brewing over the nature and genesis of attacks on different groups of African nationals, who were assaulted by residents of three villages in Chattarpur area of south Delhi late last week. Reports state that at least six African nationals said the residents of Maidangarhi and Rajpur Khurd villages racially abused them.

While FIRs are being filed, the media is being told that they are creating an unnecessary storm and stoking the embers of what is basically a non-issue. There are also several differences about what has actually triggered these attacks, from some alleging that there was a scuffle over music, others saying there were racist slurs and teasing and yet others stating that it was impromptu and unplanned. One can safely say that the controversy will continue to bubble for a while, but it does make us re-look at how we treat people of a different colour even in this city.