Itanagar, April 5: A group of young women from Arunachal Pradesh travelling in Patna were allegedly subjected to racial abuse outside a hospital washroom on April 2, with the incident captured on video and widely circulated online.
The footage shows a hospital attendant blocking the women from entering a public washroom and demanding identity documents. When the group refused, the attendant allegedly used derogatory terms such as “Momo”, “Chinki” and “Chinese,” while laughing. One of the women recorded the incident and expressed concern over safety, stating that such experiences make travellers from the Northeast feel unsafe.
The video has triggered strong reactions across northeastern states, where similar incidents have long been reported. Many have pointed out that such discrimination—ranging from verbal abuse to social exclusion—continues to affect individuals from the region when they travel or work in other parts of the country.
The incident follows a comparable case reported in February in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, where three women from Arunachal Pradesh were allegedly racially abused by a neighbour. An FIR was registered in that case, though the accused reportedly remained absconding.
Observers note that such episodes reflect a recurring pattern, where people from northeastern states are often treated as outsiders despite being Indian citizens. The latest incident has once again brought attention to the need for stronger awareness and enforcement against racial discrimination in public spaces.
