Indian police stop a North East student as he shouts slogans during a protest in New Delhi on February 1. The beating and subsequent death in New Delhi of 20-year-old Nido Tania, from Arunachal Pradesh has sparked a furious outcry against racism and criticism of police in the Indian capital. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, February 1 (IANS): Angry over the death of an Arunachal Pradesh teen, students from the northeast held a protest in the capital and also met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who Saturday assured “exemplary punishment” for the culprits who brutally thrashed the student.
Students from the northeast held a protest at the Lajpat Nagar market in south Delhi where Nido Tania, 19, was mercilessly beaten up by two shopkeepers Wednesday afternoon following a quarrel over his appearance and clothing. He died in a hospital Thursday.
Kejriwal assured the group of students that he will meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and demand action against any police official found guilty in the magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi government. Kejriwal’s assurance came even as the students called off their protest after the Delhi Police assured them of speedy investigations.
“Have assured northeast students that on the basis of the magisterial report, strict action will be taken against the culprits,” Kejriwal said after meeting a students’ delegation at his Delhi residence where he shifted Saturday. “I request citizens of India to be more tolerant. Our government is set to deal with this issue and make an example out of it,” he added.
The police Saturday said Tania’s body was handed over to his guardian. Students from Arunachal Pradesh had threatened that they would hold an indefinite protest. “The Delhi Police have accepted our demands and assured that investigation will be speeded up, so we have called off our protest,” said J.T. Tagam, former president of Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union. Nido Tania was the son of Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator Nido Pavitra.
“It is a shocking incident and it is not the first time. It is not just about people from the northeast, people from outside always face discrimination here,” said a protestor. Another protestor said they “want Delhi chief minister (Arvind Kejriwal) to deliver justice to us”. A group of people from the northeastern states also met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Harsh Vardhan. “I hope prime minister (Manmohan Singh), home minister (Sushilkumar Shinde) and chief minister (Kejriwal) will rise to the occasion,” the BJP leader said.
Activists and people from the northeast termed it a “racial attack” while the region’s parliamentarians said they would take up the matter with the prime minister.
__________________________
Rio for urgent measures to
secure NE people in Delhi
secure NE people in Delhi
DIMAPUR, February 1 (NNN): Convenor of North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) and Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, has apprised Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, to take up urgent measures in the national capital so that the people from the North East region can have a secured environment.
Terming the attack on Nido Tania a “racist attack,” an urgent letter has been dispatched from Kohima today to Delhi urging the Government of India to take this up as a serious national problem. According to Rio, if this is not addressed it will be impossible to create a sense of belonging in the minds of the people from the North East, and it will be difficult to overcome the alienation that is felt by the people. “Such reality has negatively impacted the unity and integrity of the country for decades, and continues to create hurdles in the nation building process. The NERPF condemns the murder and demands immediate and exemplary justice from the Government of India,” Rio demanded.
Terming the attack on Nido Tania a “racist attack,” an urgent letter has been dispatched from Kohima today to Delhi urging the Government of India to take this up as a serious national problem. According to Rio, if this is not addressed it will be impossible to create a sense of belonging in the minds of the people from the North East, and it will be difficult to overcome the alienation that is felt by the people. “Such reality has negatively impacted the unity and integrity of the country for decades, and continues to create hurdles in the nation building process. The NERPF condemns the murder and demands immediate and exemplary justice from the Government of India,” Rio demanded.
He also urged both the Central Government and the Delhi Government to take up the investigation of this case with utmost sincerity, and assured “all co-operation to your government in implementing effective steps that are aimed at protecting and re-assuring the people of the north eastern region in the national capital region of Delhi.”
A 17-point resolution from the NERPF, earlier submitted to the Prime Minister, had demanded the Government of India to take up stringent measures to protect students, especially girl students and working women from the region who are being subjected to physical attacks, indecent behaviour and insults in various cities of the country. “Unfortunately, it appears that the Government of India is yet to take any firm step for the protection of the people from the North East,” the NERPF convenor lamented.
