Dimapur, March 26 (MExN): The Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) and the Parag Das Centre for Documentation and Research have condemned “the racist and inhuman treatment” meted out to the octogenarian Naga elder Mhalo Kikon, by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati on March 24.
In a condemnation note, MASS Chief Advisor, Bubumoni Goswami and Secretary General, Lakhi Prashad Deka said, “We are aware that such behaviour is common at LGBIA. Elderly passengers, especially those with disabilities and if tribal heritage find it extremely difficult to navigate the aggressive Hindi speaking attitude of the security personnel. This racism has to stop.”
MASS also demanded the authorities at the airport and CISF top brass take responsibility for this disgraceful behaviour. “The guilty personnel have to face the consequences of their actions,” it stated.
In addition, it also demanded “CISF be subjected to regular public audits by statutory bodies like the Disability Commission of India and the National Commission for Minorities to sensitise their staff members. Furthermore, we demand that LGBIA employ staff who are conversant with local languages and cultures, so that Hindi hegemony is avoided in Assam and the Northeast in future.”
IWFNEI: The Indigenous Women Forum North East India (IWFNEI) stated that the Women of Northeast India want to know from the Government of India “if there is any recent heightened security risk prevailing in our part of the Country that mandates the CISF strip searching us at the airport after making us remove our under garments?”
“What else can possibly explain this bizarre scenario which occurred on March 24 at the Guwahati Airport when Octogenarian Mhalo Kikon in a wheel chair was shocked and humiliated into such a situation by the CISF woman constable in a security booth? Apparently, her explanation that she had undergone a hip operation necessitating a titanium implant fell on calloused ears and she was still strip searched,” the Forum said in its press release.
The Forum said that “it is nothing but intimidation and high handedness that a copy of the complaint copy was denied to them.”
“We shudder in horror that despite not being in a declared war zone such tactics is brazenly used on our women. Another thought is that this is racial profiling; otherwise no logical explanation offers itself. This is highly disturbing and indefensible,” it stated.
IWFNEI also said that Guwahati being the gateway to the Northeast, all of us in this region will pass through the same security scrutiny from time to time and there is every possibility that this scenario may repeat itself on innocent people.
“Mere apology from the authorities will not do. Investigation and punishment of the constable concerned with meaningful restitution in some way or the other by the authorities is the least that can and should be done for Mhalo Kikon. Advocacy work on anti racialism for the security personnel will not be amiss,” the Forum demanded.
NWHD: The Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) has condemned the harassment and misconduct committed to 80 years old Naga elderly, Mhalo Kikon and her granddaughter at the Lopkpriya Gopinath Bordolai International Airport, Guwahati by the CISF airport security during the security checking.
This act of unpleasant behavior by the security personnel is unacceptable and intolerable which clearly shows the airport security personnel malicious intent and racist attitude towards Mhalo kikon and her granddaughter in particular and to the whole of Nagas in general, the hoho stated.
NWHD has demanded the disclosure of detail of the identities of the security personnel and the validity of the proof of their suspension so that such unfortunate act will be avoided in the future.
