According to the police, however, no such complaint was filed against the students, who denied sexually harassing anyone. Other witnesses reportedly told the police that one of the men had made an “anti-India” comment of some sort, “which led to the ruckus.”

After they were eventually rescued by police officers, the students were taken to a hospital, where one of them had a gash in his neck stitched up and spent the night. The authorities are reportedly studying surveillance footage from the station as they consider charging members of the crowd there with rioting.

The video evidence prompted anger and introspection from Indians on social networks and a discussion in the media of the racism experienced by Africans in India that is common but usually goes unreported.