With the Union Home Ministry ordering inclusion of more personnel from the Northeast in the Delhi Police, the Capital’s police force has started deployment at the level of lower constabulary. The deployment is currently in the areas that have more people from the Northeast community. The Ministry’s order came after Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania was beaten to death raising concerns over the security of people from the region.
Along with the deployment of personnel from this region, mainstream celebrities are also being roped in to spread awareness on the issue. An informal meeting was held to discuss the issues concerning Northeast people at Nagaland House on Saturday where eminent personalities from the region and other celebrities were present. Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Danny Dezongpa, a Sikkimese, were among them .
“We need to introduce Northeastern cities and the culture of these places in saas-bahu serials, which are watched more than news. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry needs to be approached so that producers of such serials incorporate our suggestions,” said a speaker.
M.P. Bezbaruah, chairman of the committee set up by the government to suggest measures to address concerns of people from the Northeast and Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police Robin Hibu, who has been appointed the nodal officer for the Northeastern community, were also present.
The committee has also had meetings with students from the Northeast living in Delhi. Shedding light on his interaction with students, Mr. Bezbaruah said: “There have been cases of discrimination and violence in the city. We are covering cities like Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, particularly Delhi. As Kolkata does not have much problem, it may not be covered. In two months, we would be submitting the report to the Union Government.”
At the same time, the former bureaucrat conceded that persons from the Northeast need to “acclimatise” themselves before they land in big cities. “More and more people are coming to Delhi but there is lack of support system like State Bhawans. So, when something goes wrong, the victim does not know whom to approach.”
(with inputs from Kritika Sharma)
