‘We need a strong anti racism law’

Students from the North East and their supporters hold placards and candles during a protest in New Delhi. According to the autopsy report submitted to the Delhi High Court on February 10, 19-year-old Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania died because of “serious” internal injuries in the head. Tania’s death has led to an outcry against racism and criticism of the police in handling crimes against persons from the North East. (AP Photo)
 
North East organizations reject Centre’s remedial committee

New Delhi, February 10 (PTI): Representatives of several Northeastern organizations today rejected the committee formed by the Centre to suggest remedial measures to address concerns of NE people and also criticized the Delhi government for not following up the promise made by Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal in this regard.

“The committee formed by the government of India was done without consultation of any civil society group, it consists of only retired bureaucrats, with no women member and hence we reject that committee and call upon its rectification,” D Apao, from the Naga students Association told reporters here today.

They also flayed the Delhi Government, which had put the onus on them to form such a committee at the state level and for not following up the announcement made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “I would like to ask AAP people that why you put the onus on us. You always say that we will ask ‘Janta’ before doing this, doing that. Please take some decisions yourself as well,” said Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, Chairman of Royal Tripura foundation.

Batting for enactment of a strong and comprehensive anti-racial law, Alana Golmei, Founding member of North East Support Centre said, “People argue that there is already the SC/ST Act to safeguard the rights of the people but let me tell you that there are a lot of people who don’t come under SC or ST in the Northeastern states.”

“Also there are people from the South who get discriminated, what about them. We really need a strong anti-racism law to protect all these people and punish the perpetrators,” she said.  “Special Protection for Northeastern women in residential areas, malls, Spas, Call Centre and work places, strong action to be taken against Delhi Police for refusing to file FIR. Any police personnel who deny filing an FIR should be held accountable and suspended immediately,” said Apao.

The groups also pitched for inclusion of the history, cultural heritage and identity of the NE in the national curriculum such as NCERT, CBSE, UGC etc.  Speaking on the occasion, Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network said that there are 45 million people living in the eight northeastern states, five of them have been reeling under some sort of conflict. “Parents send their young men out of the conflict zone so that they are not harmed but if they are beaten to death on the streets of Delhi and Bangalore, this will be very unfortunate,” she said.
 
Tania died of serious internal injuries: Report
 
New Delhi, February 10 (IANS): The Delhi High Court was informed Monday by the city police that 19-year-old Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania died because of “serious” internal injuries in the head and the toxicology report came out negative.

A division bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw was told by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Delhi Police, that Tania received serious injuries on his head, lungs and face. “There were nine internal injuries and the nature of external injuries were simple. The injuries in the head led to death. There is no poisoning found in the body,” the ASG said.

Appearing for the central government, ASG Rajeeve Mehra assured the court that the draft guidelines will be placed before the court Tuesday. The court also asked him to take into consideration the suggestions given by a group of northeastern people, while the guidelines were being drafted. “Some fear must be created that such things will not be tolerated,” the bench said asking government to come up with guidelines.

Luthra said that police collected data relating to pending complaints and cases of crimes against NE people, however, full details of cases could not be collected due to a holiday. “There is no holiday for crime,” the court remarked, asking police to file status report of old and recent cases filed by people from the northeast.

On the delay in conducting the post mortems, police attributed it to lack of forensic laboratories in Delhi. The court will further hear the matter Tuesday. The court took suo moto cognisance of the incident where Tania, son of Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator Nido Pavitra, was allegedly beaten up mercilessly by shopkeepers Jan 29 in south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar market following a quarrel over his appearance and clothing. He died in a hospital the next day.
 



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