IMPHAL, February 14: At least ten persons were injured today when Delhi police unleashed a forceful retaliation on hundreds of protestors from the north-eastern states demanding justice for the victims of the series of racist attack on people from the region. They were participating at a rally organised by students of JN University which commenced from Jantar Mantar and proceeded towards Parliament when the clash with the police took place. According to reports, one of the injured identified as Phungshok Khogrew suffered fractures in one of his hands and have been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. More than 400 from the north-east states participated at the demonstration rally.
A four member team of the Manipuri Students’ Front is stationed at the national capital to take a pro-active role in the agitation against the targeted assault against people of the NE region. The team comprised of president, Kh Serajuddin, former chairman of PCM Udoi luwang, general security Nanda Babu, and Kharam Peter. The protestors shouted slogans like ‘stop racism,’ ‘stop discriminating the people of NE region,’ ‘enact anti-racism law,’ and ‘justice for all victims of racism.’
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police chased away north-east students at Rafi Marg in New Delhi on Friday around 4:30 pm. The police lathi-charged north-east students protesting at Raisina Hill. The students were protesting against racist attacks against Arunachal Pradesh youth Nido Tania that resulted in his death.
According to news reports, at least 50 students were detained by the police from the protest venue.
Twenty-year-old Nido Tania was a BA first year student in a private university in Delhi. A group of men had beaten up Nido with iron rods and sticks after he had an altercation with a shopkeeper and others at the Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar market on January 29. Nido`s friends and family said that the men shouted racial slurs at him and made fun of his dyed blonde hair.
According to news reports, four people have been arrested in the case, including the shopkeeper and they will be charged with murder.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had earlier this week ordered a CBI probe into case.