DIMAPUR, MARCH 9 (MExN): Allegations have once again surfaced about people from the North East being alienated and treated as second class citizen of India in spite of the call being conveyed to them by the Government of India for them to join the national mainstream. “This is in the midst of the Indo-Naga Political Talks when Nagas are looking forward to have a lasting peace and solution”, a communiqué issued by R S Mayori Convenor NPMHR Delhi stated.
“The Northeast women are Targets for the Indians as an object for sexual harassment and they are sexually exploited in other cities of India and as well as back home with Armed Forces Power Act as the shield for the Indian soldiers”, the NPMHR noted with serious concern as the level of harassment and exploitation is rising daily at a very high rate.
Pointing out that the Northeast people are harassed, exploited, discriminated and have to live with social stigma in other parts of India, the communiqué laments that women from the region are not safe in other cities.
The NPMHR communiqué alleged that on 25th February 2006 evening in Gurgoan the landlord of a house sexually harassed a woman who happens to be a Naga. The house was reportedly being taken on rent by some Northeast boys. While she had gone to her friend’s place with one of her cousins searching for a rented house, the landlord reportedly implicated the girl with false allegation that she is a prostitute and she should stand naked and the other boys were pushed out of the room.
“When he tried to forcefully pull down her shawl that she was wearing the boys tried to intervene but they were beaten up badly with cricket bats. It is a fact that every Northeast woman is seen as a prostitute by the Indians and boys are considered as some cheap pimps who ought to be beaten up at every instance they get chances to lay their hands upon”, the NPMHR stated. “It is a pain to know that women from Northeast have to face hostility at every step they have to take, in other parts of cities in India”.
After approaching the Naga Student Union Delhi and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights for help, they were advised to file an FIR at the earliest. “So they went to police station the next day where they were denied even the basic right to file FIR”. Later it was learned that even the police threatened them instead of helping them out.
“ASI Adarsh Singh of Qutab Enclave police station was the person who was behind denying the victim even to seek protection under the law. Till today they are not allowed to file the FIR forget about the many hours of begging and requests required to convince the police to put a stamp over the application. Why is it that the people from Northeast are even denied the rights to file FIR? Isn’t the law above every citizen of India and where is Indian democracy that they take so much pride in being the largest democratic country in the world”, the NPMHR questioned.
The human rights body also pointed out that despite having to live in fear under the shadow of the tyranny of the Indian army in Northeast, the situation was no better even while living with fear outside the jurisdiction of Arm Forces Special Power Act.
“How long do we continue to remain as a mere spectator to all these prejudices, abuse, harassment and exploitation? Isn’t it the right time for us to gather our courage and raise these issues? The police and the Indians citizen are hand in glove in discriminating the Northeast people. It is a case of racial discrimination, attempts to rape, murder, molestation and harassment. NPMHR Delhi calls upon all the people of Northeast to stand up and fight for their rights”.
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