North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) condemns the attack on a Arunachali youth
in South Delhi and demands action against the SHO of local police station. On Wednesday, the 29 January, a young boy from Arunachal Pradesh, Nido Taniam was brutally assaulted by a large group of shopkeepers in a South Delhi market following an altercation that broke out after racist comments were passed on the deceased and his other north east friends. The young student succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. This case of assault on a North East youth living in Delhi is not one of its kind but part of a string of similar attacks and racial profiling of migrant North East youth. Delayed and poorly construed police action is typical in such cases. Even in Nido’s case it has been reported by his accompanying friends that the police decided to drop off Nido in the same market where the fight had broken out – a poor and insensitive move that allowed Nido’s perpetrators to easily track him down and take revenge for the altercation.
The young student succumbed to internal injuries at his rented accommodation the next day. The incident is extremely disturbing and condemnable. We believe that such incidents are reflective of a dangerous trend of racism and also growing vigilantism in the city that targets vulnerable minority groups. With reports coming in regarding the possible imposition of a fine on Nido when he was taken to the local police station, and of the police’s hasty decision to drop him off in the same area of the altercation, we strongly believe that the Lajpat Nagar SHO and local police officers be should be investigated for their role in neglecting the seriousness of the incident. Our demand for strict action against not just Nido’s perpetrators but also the local police station stems from the fact that in general the Delhi Police has been known to downplay complaints of North East youth against racial discrimination. A complete investigation in this matter is therefore essential.
Chinglen Khumukcham,
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)
Contact: 7838983871 Email: nefis.delhi@gmail.com
