A series of disturbing incidents involving people from Northeast India has been reported at various locations over just three days.
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A series of disturbing incidents involving people from Northeast India has been reported at various locations over just three days, sparking serious concerns about their safety and calling into question the political will to address this recurring pattern. On February 20, three women from Arunachal Pradesh were allegedly subjected to racial slurs by a couple over a minor disagreement after “small debris” from electrical installation work fell to the floor below in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, as per the police. In the purported video clip of the confrontation, which has gone viral on social media, the accused woman can be clearly heard hurling derogatory remarks and racial slurs at the women from the Northeast. An FIR has been filed against the couple under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 79 (word intended to insult a woman’s modesty). The incident has triggered public outrage, with many social media users calling out leaders from Arunachal Pradesh for not speaking out against the incident. On the same day, a similar incident occurred at a resort in Arunachal Pradesh, where a family from Gujarat allegedly hurled racist remarks and sexually derogatory language at female staff following an altercation that erupted after they reportedly brought alcoholic drinks into the resort, which is prohibited. A case has been filed against the family after a video of the incident went viral. Even as these incidents were widely discussed both online and offline, another shocking incident emerged, this time in Uttar Pradesh. Three men allegedly directed racial slurs at, stalked and physically assaulted a resident doctor from Nagaland posted at the AIIMS Gorakhpur while she was returning to the campus on Sunday (Feb. 22), following which a case was filed and two individuals were arrested in this connection.
These incidents are not isolated; they represent just a few drops in the bucket. In 2014, Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, was beaten to death in Delhi following taunts about his appearance. It sparked widespread debate on racism and discrimination against people from the Northeast region, but there is no visible positive outcome. Just over two months ago, Anjel Chakma, an MBA student from Tripura, succumbed to his injuries after being brutally attacked by a group of youths in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. “We are not Chinese… We are Indians,” were his last words to the attackers who hurled racial insults at him. A clear pattern has emerged about racial prejudices faced by people from the Northeast, particularly in the national capital. Some individuals dare not speak up and live with the trauma in silence, while others have to give up before even fighting back after seeing many such cases going nowhere. Those who speak up are often abused, some fatally. Racists are clearly emboldened by inaction. For instance, the audacity of the accused in the Malviya Nagar incident to call Arunachali girls, including a UPSC aspirant, “dhandhewali” or sex workers in front of a police officer reflects a complete disregard for law enforcement agencies and the rule of law. There are laws to protect citizens against racial discrimination but lack the teeth to effectively address this ongoing issue. Many opt against pursuing legal action due to the cost involved and the painfully slow judicial system. So, robust legal support and fast tracking of racial cases are necessary to tackle the issue. Racism should not be tolerated, be it in Delhi, Bengaluru, the Northeast, or anywhere else.