DU Students of the North-East Beaten Up by Racist Police Sub-Inspectors
Students of North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) to Approach NHRC

22 August 2013

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)
7/24 Double Story
Vijay Nagar,
Delhi-110007

Today, in a shamefully racist and authoritarian attack on students of the North-East, two Delhi Police sub-inspectors brutally beat up two male students near Delhi University’s (DU) Satyawati College. The two male students belonged to the North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) that spearheaded the struggle against the compulsory Hindi language requirement envisaged under DU's FYUP program.

The two students were on their way to Satyawati College to speak to other students about the problems faced by students under FYUP and about the general problems faced by North-East youth in a city like Delhi. As they alighted from a DTC bus and were speaking with a DTC bus-ticket checker, the two sub-inspectors intervened and started intimidating the male students.

Since the students resisted the policemen's intimidation tactics and argued back, the two sub-inspectors of Bharatnagar Police Station decided to pick them up and take them to the police station. At the Bharatnagar Police Station, the two sub-inspectors not only thrashed the unsuspecting students but also passed several racist comments on the physical features of the students. Shockingly, the two students were only released once the policemen had forcefully made them sign on a statement saying that they were not assaulted by the Police but by another party.

On being released, the two students spoke to other NEFIS members and it has been decided that such an act of authoritarian behaviour, dadagiri and sheer brutality is unbecoming of policemen and should be resisted. The two students were taken to Hindu Rao Hospital for an MLC, which will produced in front of the court and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Ashok Vihar). Since the two policemen's behaviour was coloured by extremely racist comments and views, it is clear that students, particularly from the North-East are easy victims of high-handed, insensitive and intimidating police tactics.

As the student-activists had in no way contributed to an adverse law and order situation, it is unprecedented for the policemen to react in such a way. That the policemen conducted themselves in this manner shows just how much of a racist bias works within the city's local administration and police thanas. It is, in fact, to be noted that this is not the first time that the Bharatnagar Police Station has earned a notorious name for authoritarian behaviour/functioning. The forceful statement extracted by the policemen from the students is an extremely low point and reflects highly unethical behaviour and cowardice on the part of the police.

Angered by this incident, NEFIS has decided to approach other student/youth organizations and North-East groups, and to file a formal complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). It has also been decided that a represenation will be made to the DCP (Ashok Vihar) and to initiate legal action against the Bharatnagar Police Station. They strongly feel that such acts of racism and brutality should not be taken lying down, and should be exposed in the larger public.



Thanglunmang Khongsai
On behalf of North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)