Kolkata: The death of Akha Salouni in South Delhi, the 29-year-old Information Technology worker from Manipur has called a major furore in the state, as residents demand justice and security of its people in the national capital.
Though the incident was fallout of a street fight, people aren’t convinced that it didn’t have a racial angle. They say attacks on northeasterners have gone up considerably after Nido Tania’s murder earlier this year but the government and police are apathetic. Most of them called for new policies, including swift implementation of the latest Bezbaruah committee report on dealing with racial attacks in cities that was submitted to the ministry of home affairs.
“Though there are reports of death due to road rage, we believe it’s a hate crime that led to his death. The city of Delhi is extremely unsafe for us, as we regularly face discrimination,” said Suraj Bhas, a native of Manipur.
“We understand that the government doesn’t want to acknowledge racism. In this case too, I am sure there is a racist undertone,” says David Boyes of North East India Forum Against Racism (NEIFAR).
“There is constant discrimination against us. People make a racial slur targeting northeasterners, like calling them chinki or momo. They get extremely angry and that’s how fights begin. Northeasterners are continuously being targeted like this. Why aren’t other communities being targeted? It’s simply because northeasterners are being racially profiled,” questioned Boyes.
Several measures were initiated recently by the Delhi police for the safety of citizens from the Northeast States living in the Capital, but few have resulted in making this vulnerable group any safer.
Soon after the death of Tania, a helpline number was set up. The helpline has received 368 calls since it started and based on those complaints 69 cases have been registered so far.
A Special Cell had also been created for people from the Northeast but with no real administrative or functional power; it is more or less toothless. Its role is largely limited to monitoring criminal cases.
“These are just adhoc measures that are taken as a kneejerk reaction
every time an incident takes place in the city. The fact remains that no long term measures are initiated by the government and people to people contact are the least. We need to address the problem first by sensitizing people,” said Hemant Barua, a professor in Delhi University.
Clinical psychologists believe that these attacks have their roots in a patriarchal and violent psyche. “There is very little tolerance among people here. That is why there is such violence against women and against people from other communities. Also, there may be a feeling that this community is weak and you can get away with any crime perpetrated on them. People have to be educated to known that the people of northeast are equal Indians, just like them,” said Sunetra Barua, a psychologist practicing in Delhi.
