Candle light vigil and protest meeting against racism in Delhi at DU Metro Station

4th February 2014

Candle light vigil and protest meeting against racism in Delhi at DU Metro Station

North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) holds candle light vigil and protest meeting at DU Metro Station
Students from various North East communities unite against racism in Delhi
Cadle light march covers localities like Vijaynangar and Patel Chest near north campus
NEFIS condemns the racist and barbaric attack on Arunachali youth in South Delhi.

Following the gruesome death of a young student from Arunachal Pradesh, Nido Taiam on Thursday, nearly a thousand students and youth gathered for a peaceful candlelight vigil in Delhi University’s North Campus. They came from various north east communities since the problem of racist attacks have been faced across the board by different north east communities. They gathered under the banner of North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) and sloganeered against racism, insensitivity of Delhi police and rampant barbaric attacks on North East youth in the city.

The candle light vigil proceeded to nearby localities like Vijaynangar and Patel Chest where a lot of North East students live in paying guest accommodations. A large number of the protesters were from the women’s colleges of DU where the students have been increasingly concerned about a growing spate of sexual harassment of North East women students in and around the university campus. Addressing the gathering, Maya John, a teacher of Miranda House College, congratulated the students and youth for uniting across community lines to express solidarity against racism and police negligence.

Candle light vigil and protest meeting against racism in Delhi at DU Metro Station

The immediate incident which brought together such a vast number of students from different North East communities was the brutal assault by a large group of shopkeepers in 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)
Email: nefis(dot)delhi(at)gmail(dot)com