Racial Attack on North East People in Delhi Arise Again
Neighbours harassed Northeast Couple

New Delhi, 13 October 2012

A NORTHEAST couple living in Push Vihar, Saket in south Delhi was indiscriminately harassed by their neighbours today at their residence. The couple lived in the third floor, when a minor argument took place in the ground floor of the same building. When there was some argument in the ground floor, the victim (name withheld), aged 34, was in the balcony simply standing. Just because of standing in the balcony, he and his wife were severely harassed by their neighbours.

According to the victim, who spoke to NESC & Helpline, the two families who stayed in the ground floor came up in group, numbering around 5-10, forcibly knocked the door and broke the window glasses where the Northeast couple lived.

“When I opened the door, I saw they tried to enter our room and beat us without any reason. They stood at our door starring at us in anger. During that time, I blocked those people, who tried to lay their hands on my husband. I was frightened, so I hurriedly closed the door. Then they started knocking our door by force. When we did not open they broke our window glasses. They kicked and smashed our door continuously. This was at around 10.40 AM”, the victim’s wife told NESC & Helpline.

“After few hours two policemen and a lady police arrived and arrested us leaving those men who forcibly knocked our door and broken our window glasses”, the victim said in distress. The police took us to Saket Police Station. At the police station, the police partially sided the wrong-doers, they did not listen to us. They even stopped me when I tried to call some of my friends”, narrated the victim.

At around 1:30 PM, the police warned us alleging that the incident occurred due to our fault. We did not commit any wrong deeds against our neighbours. The police alleged that we have thrown things from the balcony. Our attackers have fooled and wrongly reported us to the police, said the victim.

Out of anger, my husband threw a bucket of water from the balcony when our neigbours attempted to assault us. There was a minor scuffle, but no one is injured, said the 28-year-old woman, wife of the victim.

According to the victim, they were compelled to sign a document which states they were the wrong-doers, it was no their fault but a fabricated story. Until and unless we sign this, we won’t be released as per the words of the cops, said the victim. When we signed it, the police released us immediately, he added.

The victim hails from Manipur. The victim is a government employee, staying in government quarter with his wife and his cousin for the past two years.

The crime against North East community in Delhi continues to suffer. In another incident, a girl from was attempted rape in her rented house in Murnika three days ago by local. Matter reported to Delhi police and no help extended.

According to another source reaching to NESC and Helpline, a man from Sikkim gave a loan of Rs 5 lakh to one of his friend from Delhi. When he asked him to return the money, he stated threatening him. The matter is put with Delhi police and waited for action.

Madhu Chandra, Spokesperson of North East Support Centre and Helpline laments about the crimes arising against the people from North East India. He said, “Though the Union Home Ministry has issued directive to Delhi government and police to curve the racial attack and discrimination faced by people from North East India, the incidents are unabated. The law enforcing agencies has failed to book these offenders under the SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act as per the directive.”

The North East Support Centre & Helpline is unhappy to such police who have ill-treated the Northeast people instead of lending ears to their grievances, they turned deaf and numb. The incident has shown the lethargic attitude of the city police towards the northeasterners. It is very shameful in which a Northeast was attacked just because he was standing in the balcony.

Released by
Bruce K. Thangkhal
Media Incharge
North East Support Centre & Helpline