Northeast students demand justice

February 02, 2014 01:40 am | Updated December 04, 2021 11:26 pm IST - NEW DELHI:

People from the Northeast protest against the killing of a student from Arunachal Pradesh, at Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

People from the Northeast protest against the killing of a student from Arunachal Pradesh, at Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Students from the Northeast feel that it is the lack of information on ‘cultural heritage’ and ‘unique identity’ of their States that makes people in North India discriminate against them.

They have appealed to the Centre to include information on their culture in the syllabus of the NCERT and the CBSE to clear prejudices against their community.

They addressed their demands through a letter to the Delhi Police on Saturday.

The students belonging to different students’ unions including the Northeastern Students’ Association, Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union, Naga Students’ Union and All Assam Students’ Union met senior Delhi Police officers at Lajpat Nagar police station. They staged a protest in the afternoon demanding justice for Nido Tania, the 19-year-old boy from Arunachal Pradesh who died on Thursday after allegedly being attacked by shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar.

Arunachal Students’ Association vice-president Yeshi told The Hindu: “Students from the North-East face racial discrimination because those in other parts of India are not taught enough about our unique identity and culture. The people here do not learn to accept us as one of their own. The government should make it a point to include cultural heritage of our States in the curriculums of NCERT, CBSE and other boards.”

The students also demanded action against policemen who, they allege, left Nido at the incident spot which led to repeat beating by the accused. “The policemen left Nido at the incident spot and he was beaten again. They must be punished for this misconduct. They are responsible for Nido’s death,” said Tawai, a student who came to the protest.

The students demanded that Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi come to the spot. The police told them that this was not possible and met the representatives of different students’ unions.

Robin Hibu, Joint Commissioner of Police, Training, who has been appointed the Nodal Officer for the Northeast community, addressed the meeting and assured the students that the Police are committed to providing security to citizens, especially to the students from the Northeast.

After the meeting was over, Deputy Commissioner of Police South-East P. Karunakaran said: “We have already registered a case of murder under relevant sections of SC/ST (POA) Act. The chemical analysis report of viscera is being expedited from the CFSL and all the accused will be arrested.”

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