Another attack on NE people in Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal/PTI

New Delhi, March 01 2014 : In yet another incident of violence against North eastern people in the national capital, a girl and her cousin brother hailing from Manipur were allegedly attac-ked by two men who thrashed them, hurled racial abuses and molested the girl last night.

According to the police, both the assailants, identified as Kamal, a motor mechanic and his associate Manpreet have been arrested.

Reacting to the assault of a NE boy and a girl near Delhi University yesterday night, about 300 youth from NE stormed the Police Station at Model Town in Delhi.

The victims hail from Ukhrul district of Manipur.

The 24-year-old-woman is pursuing BEd from Delhi University.

The incident took place at around 10 PM in Vijay Nagar area which is close to Delhi University's north campus when the boy was going to drop her cousin sister to her PG after having dinner at his place.

A file photo of a rally in Delhi condemning racial killing of Nido Taniam and assault of 2 Manipuri women on 4 Feb 2014 :: Pix - MSAD

As they reached near a park at Buddha Colony, they saw a man urinating on roadside.

Seeing the girl, he turned towards her and started making lewd gestures and comments.

"They first ignored him but as he continued and went on to call them 'chinki' and 'nepali', the boy confronted him.

Kamal and Manpreet, who were in an inebriated state, thrashed the boy black and blue, and when the girl tried to intervene, they too beat her, tore her dress and molested her and even tried to rape her in front of her brother," said a friend of the duo.

As they shouted for help, locals and neighbours rushed to the spot after which the assailants fled from the spot.

Police was informed and both the victims were taken to a nearby hospital, from where they were discharged after first aid and medical examination.

However, soon after the incident, Northeastern students and other locals reached Model Town police station and protested.

The demonstrators pelted stones due to which over 10 vehicles including a PCR van were damaged, the officer said.

"We have registered a case under relevant sections and both the accused have been arrested," said a senior police official.

The angry demonstration against racial attack on NE people went on till the wee hours today.

About 15 vehicles belonging to Police and the local residents were damaged by the protesters.

Early today the police registered an FIR under IPC Sections 323/341/354/354 (A) 354 (B) / 341 and under 3XI SC/ST (POA) Act 1989 .

Later in the afternoon, a meeting of the Delhi Police led by DCP Gnanasambandan and NE representatives were held at the Police station.

Sources told The Sangai Express that the Police commissioners and officers in charge have expressed concern over the violence, where the NE representatives were reportedly cautioned that such act could possibly invite retaliation, which could be de- trimental for the NE people living in the area.

The Police commissioner could not be reached for comments.

Meanwhile, the North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has accused the Police of trying to hush up the matter in connivance with the local land lords shortly after their arrival at the scene instead of taking the grave matter seriously.

Moreover the Police tried to make fun of the issue displaying the insensitivity and racial bias of the police.

This irresponsible behaviour by the police led to more students assembling at the location, the NEIFIS alleged.

"When the students started pressurising the police to promptly file an FIR the police instead of listening and taking the incident seriously started to act otherwise by misbehaving with female students and one of the NE wo- men was slapped too.

This led to slogan shouting from the students and to disperse the agitated crowd police resorted to lathi charge, man- handling and molestation," Chinglen Khumukcham said in a statement.

Many students were seriously injured and one student was taken into police custody where he was beaten so harshly that he can't move now.

When more students assembled, the police reached new lows by indulging in stone pelting.

"Neither did the police have female personnel nor any senior police officer to handle the matter," he lodged.

The students who suffered grievous injuries were not even given MLC facility, he added.