New Delhi, March 10: Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, chief of the Tipra Motha Party, has strongly condemned the alleged racial assault on two individuals from India’s Northeast in Malviya Nagar near the Saket Court Complex, describing the incident as “disheartening and sickening” for the region’s residents.
Debbarma, reacting on social media, highlighted the continuing vulnerability of people from the Northeast in metropolitan cities, despite previous assurances and institutional measures. “Another day, another incident where someone from Northeast is bullied and racially targeted in Delhi (this time at the Saket Court). I wonder what happened to the Bezbaruah Committee report which had been formed after the death of Nido Tania,” he wrote, referring to the 2014 recommendations aimed at safeguarding Northeast communities.
The latest incident reportedly involved a transgender woman from Assam and another person from Manipur, who were allegedly attacked by a group of youths in a park near the Saket court area. According to family members, the assailants used a knife and a belt after the victims objected to remarks made at them, sparking outrage on social media and calls for stricter measures against racial discrimination.
The Bezbaruah Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2014 following the death of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, had outlined a series of recommendations to address racial harassment faced by Northeast residents in metropolitan cities. Key measures included criminalising racial discrimination under the Indian Penal Code, establishing dedicated Northeast cells and nodal officers in police departments, providing helplines and legal assistance, promoting awareness and sensitisation about Northeast cultures, and ensuring equitable access to accommodation and services.
Although several measures were implemented—including helplines, police nodal officers, and legal aid mechanisms—incidents like the recent attack continue to raise questions about the effectiveness and enforcement of the committee’s recommendations. Debbarma’s remarks underline the persistent concern among Northeast communities about safety and equal treatment in India’s urban centres, renewing calls for stronger action and accountability from authorities.
