Crime against women from North East in Delhi rises
Life in Delhi turns a daily nightmare for women from North-East
New Delhi: The capital city of India has become a daily nightmare for women from the North-East of the country who are here to study or for work.
A close study of reports shows that the community of about 100,000 people from the north-eastern states is under threat – virtually any day, any time – of assault, molestation, or murder.
As many as 16 severe cases of molestation, rape and other forms of extreme cruelty perpetuated in Delhi against people from the North-East have been recorded so far in 2009. And, 4 of these incidents took place in the last two weeks.
The worst cases of recent atrocities against people from the North-East staying in Delhi include the murder by Pushpam Kumar Sinha, 34, of a young girl from Manipur; molestation of a girl from Arunachal by school boys; molestation of a girl from Nagaland; and assault on a couple from Nagaland.
On October 24, 2009, Pushpam Sinha, 34, a PhD scholar working at the India Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, assaulted and strangled to death Ramchanphy Hongray, the 19-year-old girl who is his neighbour, in her home in south Delhi. The man then burnt the girl’s face in order to mislead the police.
At Sarojini Nagar in Delhi, on October 12, a girl from the North-East was dragged into a van. However, the presence of mind of the victim, who is an employee of a 5-star hotel, saved her life. After the girl raised a hue and cry, passersby caught hold of one of the assailants and beat him up.
On October 17, a couple from Nagaland was assaulted by some young men, who were allegedly drunk, at Safdarjung Enclave.
The same day, a 5-year-old girl from the North-East was allegedly molested by her tuition teacher.
Earlier, in April 2009, a girl aged 6, was raped and murdered by her neighbour. The girl’s body was later fished out from a water tank nearby.
These terrifying incidents have prompted YS Dadwal, Delhi Police Commissioner, to call for a ‘zero-tolerance policy’ towards any crime committed against women from the North-East. He has ordered that crimes committed against people from the North-East be given top priority, and asked 3 Deputy Commissioners from east, south and north Delhi to act as nodal officers for the safety of women.
However, many members of the North-East community complain that the police have been slow to act.
According to Madhu Chandra, spokesman for the North-East Support Centre and Helpline, a help centre for the youth from the north-eastern states living in Delhi and the National Capital region (NCR), there have been several cases of atrocities, but police are doing little about them and demanded that the Delhi government act sternly to check these incidents.
About 4,000 students from the North-East take admission to various courses in Delhi University (DU) each year, and for them, every day in Delhi is like a nightmare, Madhu Chandra says.
A survey conducted by the North-East Support Centre and Helpline has revealed that 86% (or about 86,000) people hailing from the north-eastern states and living in Delhi face some sort of discrimination or the other “on a daily basis.”
The North-East Support Centre alleges that nearly half the number of women sexually harassed in Delhi and neighbourhood is from the North-East. He says that the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline is “flooded with complaints related to sexual harassment.”
Most members of the north-eastern community are not happy with the police. Kamakshi Sinha, who hails from Assam and doing her undergraduate course in Delhi University, says that that the police circular is “just a piece of paper.” She complains that people in Delhi call them ‘Chinky’ and such other derogatory names, and the policemen ridicule them when they go to the police station to lodge a complaint.
Another female student of Delhi University says that most girls from the North-East are even scared of approaching the police. “Police do not respond to our pleas, and we are treated like outcasts,” she laments.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, MP and Congress general secretary, has said he will totally cooperate with the North-East Students Union in its efforts to curb the increasing menace of crime against both men and women the north-eastern states.
Rahul Gandhi gave this assurance to a team of members of the North-East Students Union which met him to seek his support and intervention in the matter.
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Nganthoi said on Sunday, November 1, 2009, 16:11
the issues of discriminations and harassment of the north east people facing in other states are increasing day by day. before coming to any conclusion let us look back to ourselves. the first thing is, there is no uniformity and respect for each other among the north east itself. there are hindu as well as christian states in north east which is a culture diversity in itself. but when it comes to other parts of india majority are hindu which portray orthodox and reserved culture.to gain respect we need to respect others. western and korean fashion are influencing the north east but they should know when and where to expose. we are discriminated because we carry our uniqueness everywhere. there is no unity nor single presentation as “north east” and so we are weak thats how we give advantage to others. we need to unite, think as one, act as one and understand our dependent on other states.as some north eastern people cannot handle the liberty of away from home.they get spoiled and spoil the image of other noble north eastern who become the innocent victims.