Rally at Shillong against Killing of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, in Delhi

Shillong, 2nd February, 2014

Rally at Shillong against Killing of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, in Delhi on Feb 2 2014

THE SHILLONG MANIPURI STUDENTS’ UNION (SMSU)
Regd.No.E-16 (RS) 30/2001/149 0f 2002
H.Q. Manipur House, Red Land, Laitumkhrah, Shillong-03
Phone: +91-8414028584
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.smsu.org.in

Ref. – No8/smsu/c14
Date: 02/02/14

Today, the 2ndFeb 2014, the Shillong Manipuri Students’ Union (SMSU) and Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union, had jointly organized a successful rally at Shillong from 10:30a.m to 1:30 p.m. to protest against the gruesome and inhumane killing of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, in Delhi on 30thJan 2014, he died there after he was allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers following an altercation sparked by their taunts on his hairstyle.

There were more than 800 people from various ethnic groups from north east to participate in the rally and more than 1000 joined till the end of the rally and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Mizo Students’ Union, Garo Students’ Union and Naga Students’ Union are also participated to the rally. The protestor expressed their solidarity to the parents of the victims too fight for justice. The participants of the rally displayed play-card displaying, “We want justice”, “Justice delayed is justice denied”, “we are Indian, we are not Chinese, delhi police murdabad, and India government hai hai etc.

Rally at Shillong against Killing of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, in Delhi on Feb 2 2014

It may be noted that in the last few years, there are increasing numbers of similar cases. Attacks, misbehavior, and discriminations to the students from North East have been growing in India’s major cities particularly, in metros. An unofficial racial profiling of the NE students seems to be going on in many parts of India. In cases of like Richard Loitam, O. Laaba, Dana Sangma, Ramchanphy Hongray, and Reingamphi Awungshi etc. And now is Nido Tania; then whose will be the next? It has been evidently shown that the institutions and polices they were trying to cover up the cases. It is important for both the State and the Central government to note that such racially biased attitudes towards the people of North East by the people of the mainland India can only continue at the risk of grave consequences.

It is for this reason that we request to the government kindly intervene to the appropriate authorities and the Central Government to take immediate steps for Justice to the victims and their family members and, take steps to stop the ongoing racial profiling and discriminations against the people of North East.

After the rally education secretary of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) announced that candlelight vigil will be organize on day-after-tomorrow at Police Bazaar, Shillong.

The participants condemn:
o The murderer/s of Nido Tania
o The criminal conspiracy that covered up the crime and the criminals
o Racial profiling and discrimination on northeast people

The participants demanded:
o Immediate action for justice for Nido Tania
o Punish the shopkeeper and others for harboring crime and criminals
o Legislation to stop racial profiling and discrimination to the NE students
o Government should take immediate action to make a mechanism for safety and security of NE students in other cities of India.

The rally was peaceful and very cordial.

President,
Ch. Thangamba Meetei
SMSU, Shillong.