Valentine’s Day Protest: Justice for Nido Tania, Struggles of Northeast India

ON February 14, as the world celebrated Valentine’s Day, thousands of protesters from Northeast India marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House in New Delhi, demanding justice for Nido Tania, a 21-year-old from Arunachal Pradesh who was brutally beaten on January 29, 2014, and died the following day — reportedly targeted due to his hairstyle. The protest also called for greater protection and safety for Northeastern communities, who have been subjected to racism, discrimination, harassment, and violence across India.

NIDO TANIA

The Delhi Police responded with heavy lathi charge, injuring many demonstrators and detaining several at the Parliament Street police station. This incident underscores the persistent struggles of Northeastern people in India, who continue to endure systemic prejudice, exploitation, and even fatal attacks.

On this Valentine’s Day Protest, the Delhi Police apprehended many non-Northeasterners and Northeasterners who were not part of the protest but were merely waiting for public transport at the bus stand as well as the metro station. Strangely, even Tibetans, Nepalese, and Sikkimese - who share similar Mongoloid features with Northeasterners - were almost detained and subjected to police interrogations due to mistaken identity.

In a bizarre turn of events, several individuals had to argue with the police and present their identity cards to prove they were not protesters. This is the capital of India, yet Northeasterners continue to be racially profiled and discriminated against. Wake up, India!

Here is the sequence of the events captured through the lens of 

Bruce K. Thangkhal

media in-charge

North East Support Centre & Helpline, Delhi

on 14 February, 2014.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

!!!! Standing Against Racism in India: A Call for Justice and Equality !!!!

RACISM and DISCRIMINATION against Northeast Indians are not just isolated incidents — they are a deeply rooted social injustice that continues to plague our nation. From DEROGATORY SLURS to PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, countless Northeastern individuals have been subjected to mistreatment simply because of their distinct ethnicity and culture. This must END now.

We, as citizens of this country, demand equal RESPECT, DIGNITY, and SECURITY. The Northeast is an integral part of India, yet we are often treated as OUTSIDERS in our own land. How long will we be ignored? How long will we be seen as strangers? Our language, food, and appearance do not make us any less Indian than anyone else.

To those who turn a blind eye to our struggles, silence is complicity. Every act of RACISM, whether subtle or overt, chips away at the unity of our nation. If INDIA (Bharat) truly stands for DIVERSITY, then let it reflect in actions, not just in words.

 “To be treated as a foreigner in your OWN country is a WOUND that words CANNOT heal.”

It is time to hold people accountable. It is time to educate. It is time to demand change. Let this be a MOVEMENT, not just a moment. We will not be SILENT. We will not be ignored. Racism has NO place in INDIA.

To everyone who stood with our brother NIDO TANIA (victim of racism) in our massive protest rally, may our spirit of unity grow even stronger in the days ahead. To those who endured the brutality of the Delhi Police, our hearts are with you — we share your pain deeply. Let justice prevail for our brother, Nido Tania, and for all Northeastern people across India!

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal 

media in-charge 

North East Support Centre & Helpline, Delhi

14.02.'14

!!! NO TO RACISM !!!!

**The North East Support Centre and Helpline (NESCH) is a collective initiative of human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists, lawyers, intellectuals, and professionals dedicated to preventing harassment, discrimination, molestation, and abuse faced by people from Northeast India, especially women, living in Delhi and the NCR. Established in 2007, NESCH continues to advocate for safety, justice, and dignity.**

Protest: Justice 4 Nido Tania
Raising Awareness on Racial Attacks
Valentine's Day with Delhi Police: Justice 4 Nido Tania
Northeasterners unite Against Racial Slurs

Protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi against Racism & Racial Attack on NE people 14/02/2014

Photos Courtesy: Ginza Vualzong@zogam.com fb

Protest: Justice 4 Nido Tania
Raising Awareness on Racial Attacks
Valentine's Day with Delhi Police: Justice 4 Nido Tania
Northeasterners unite Against Racial Slurs

Some recent incidents on NE people

Collections of unwanted incidents among the North East people in Delhi and NCR collected from Facebook group North East Support Centre & Helpline...

NE girls molested by landlord

Two chakma girls from Arunachal Pradesh was molested in Gurgaon on 13/02/2014 night by the landlord and his friends. The girls ran away and in the morning the landlord came again and tried forcing one of the girl's friends to sign a paper. Tigra Village, Gurgaon where the girls stay falls under Sadar Police Stations. Heard that FIR already lodged. (Source: Seven Sister's Project).

NE Girl Robbed in Delhi

A staff nurse from Manipur, who works in GB Pant hospital, was robbed by unknown man near the hospital last night. The incident occurred while she was returning home at around 9.30pm on 12/02/2014.

The man forcibly snatched away her mobile phone and her bag [which contained important documents and money/Rs 7000]. 

"This incident happened in a busy place. While our sister was confronting the man face-to-face, there were many people around her who simply stared at her. No one helps her during the scuffle took place. Atlast the man decamped with her things,” sources told NE Helpline few minutes ago. FIR lodged.Top of Form

'Racial' heat on Doordarshan

The Telegraph | Sumi Sukanya | New Delhi, Feb. 11:

Acting on a complaint filed by a group of Delhi University teachers and students hailing from the Northeast — who accused Doordarshan of being discourteous towards them and showing “racial bias” after inviting them for a talk show on DD News — Prasar Bharati has formed a fact-finding committee to look into the allegations.

“We were told that the teachers would be put on the panel but on reaching, the studio we were told that they just wanted us to be part of the audience as they had already selected six panellists. When we protested, they started insulting us. The DD staff, particularly anchor Sharma and producer of the show Subhash Jain, were discourteous and they misbehaved with us.

• North East Support Centre & Helpline

Delhi Police to create FB, Twitter pages for NE people

Faced with criticism over its perceived lack of sensitivity and outreach to the northeast community in the capital, Delhi Police is set to launch a Facebook page and a Twitter account for people from the northeast where they can post complaints and suggestions.

In another move, a 24-hour Delhi Police helpline will be publicised widely by their social media websites.

The decision was taken by Delhi Police in the wake of an alleged “racist” attack on Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania that led to his death and a furore among people from the northeast region.

Delhi Police already has a committee, formed in 2012 and headed by a joint commissioner of police, to tackle problems faced by students and other people from the northeastern states living in Delhi. It is currently being headed by Joint Commissioner Robin Hibu, who hails from the region.

“A Facebook and Twitter account of Delhi Police will be launched soon where students from the northeastern region can put forth their grievances and suggestions,” a police officer told IANS.

He said the accounts will be monitored regularly by a police team with good knowledge of social media and computer handling. “Delhi Police will take note of the posts and act upon them.”

“We will also post the action taken by Delhi Police on the complaints and suggestions,” he added.

Delhi Police will also publicise its 24-hour helpline number - 1091 - on the website of the ministry of development of north east region (DoNER) as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages.

It will also encourage northeast students to pen down their thoughts and experiences on wattpad - an online community themed around writing and story-telling on which users can post articles, stories, and poems about anything.

The DoNER ministry has already launched a support centre for students from the northeast following the death of Tania.

The decision was arrived at after a joint meeting between Delhi Police and officials of DoNER Feb 5, said another police official.

The support centre has been opened at the NorthEast Council Guest House in Chanakyapuri in central Delhi. Professional counsellors will be hired on contractual basis to deal with problems and issues raised by northeast students at the support centre.

In another step at outreach, Delhi Police is planning to conduct half-day seminars once a month that will see professional counsellors and northeast people discuss issues and problems faced by them. In this move, the DoNER ministry would also chip in.

Delhi Police holds meetings once in two months with students and people from the northeast in the seven police districts of the capital. The minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Hibu and the Delhi Police commissioner, said an official.

Source: Nagalandpost

Manipur Woman Robbed Near GB Pant Hospital in Delhi

New Delhi, 13 Feb 2014 –  A woman from Manipur, working as a staff nurse at GB Pant Hospital, was robbed by an unidentified man near the hospital last night at around 9:30 pm. The incident took place while she was on her way home.

The assailant snatched her mobile phone and bag, which contained important documents and Rs 7,000 in cash. “While she struggled to resist, many bystanders simply watched without offering any help,” her cousin said.

Her cousin further informed me that the bag contained important bank-related documents along with the cash.

Eventually, the man fled with her belongings. A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL 

NE STUDENTS to PROTEST Against ‘RACIAL ATTACKS’ in DELHI

New Delhi, 13 Feb 2014 – The recent racial attacks on Northeasterners in the national capital have sparked widespread outrage. A large protest march is set to take place on Parliament Street, New Delhi, tomorrow, condemning racism, racial discrimination, hate crimes, and related violence faced by people from the Northeast in the city.

The campaign against racism and the protest march on Valentine’s Day have been organised by concerned students from the Northeast, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), along with various Northeast student associations based in Delhi.

Several shocking incidents in recent weeks have fuelled this protest:

The death of Nido Taniam: Nido, a 19-year-old student from Chandigarh, was visiting Delhi for a 10-day holiday when he was brutally assaulted by shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar. He succumbed to his injuries the next day. A post-mortem report confirmed that he died due to injuries sustained in the attack.

Sexual assault of a minor: Less than a week after Nido’s tragic death, a 14-year-old girl from Manipur was brutally raped by her landlord’s son on the night of 7 February 2014 in Munirka. The accused has since been arrested by the Delhi Police.

Attack on two Manipuri boys: On 9 February 2014, two young men from Manipur were physically assaulted in Ambedkar Nagar, South Delhi, at around 8:30 pm. The attack occurred after they objected to racial slurs. A group of motorbike riders beat them up following an argument with two passers-by who allegedly called them “Chinki.” One of the victims sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised at AIIMS.

Stabbing and robbery in Saket: In the early hours of 11 February 2014, a 24-year-old youth from Manipur was stabbed and robbed by five local assailants in Saket, South Delhi. His mobile phone and wallet were stolen, and he suffered injuries to his abdomen and liver. He has been admitted to the ICU at Saket City Hospital.

The organisers of the protest are calling for stronger measures to combat racial violence and ensure the safety of Northeasterners living in Delhi.

~ Bruce K.Thangkhal
Special Correspondent - The Mizoram Post | Manipur Chronicle | Zogam Today

Protest: Justice 4 Nido Tania
Raising Awareness on Racial Attacks
Valentine's Day with Delhi Police: Justice 4 Nido Tania
Northeasterners unite Against Racial Slurs

 

Sikkim Band's Powerful Tribute to Nido Tania: A Call to End Racial Discrimination

Gangtok, February 13, 2014 – In a heartfelt tribute to Nido Tania, a Sikkim-based metal band, Dwelling for Aeon, released a song titled “Mundane Journey of Life” on reverberation.com. The song honours Tania, a 19-year-old who was tragically beaten to death in a racially motivated attack by shopkeepers in South Delhi. His death sparked nationwide protests, particularly in the Northeastern states, against the racial discrimination faced by people from the region, especially students in Delhi and other parts of the country.

The band members, who have themselves experienced racial slurs and discrimination, felt a personal connection to the incident. “I’ve studied outside and have been bullied for my distinct features,” shared lead vocalist Ashish Biswakarma, who recently completed his civil engineering diploma in Coimbatore. “This song sends a strong message against racial discrimination. It’s our small effort to appeal to everyone to say ‘no to racial remarks.’ Let’s ensure incidents like these never happen again.”

The band, formed in 2011, comprises five members aged between 17 and 22: Ashish Biswakarma (vocals), Arun Pandey (lead guitar), D.K. Calvin (lead guitar), Adarsh Gautam (bass), and Anup Rai (drums). A Japanese student from Paljor Namgyal Girls Senior Secondary School, Suseri Fuchimoto, also contributed violin to the track, adding a unique touch to the powerful composition.

The members of Dwelling for Aeon expressed their hope that their tribute would resonate deeply. “Music touches the soul, and we wanted to honor Nido through our art,” the band said. Inspired by metal bands like Whitechapel, Lamb of God, and Pantera, they have previously competed in the IIT Guwahati rock competition.

This tribute is a musical outcry against the racial prejudice that continues to plague many in India, and the band hopes their message will inspire others to stand up against discrimination.

~ NE HELPLINE [NESCH]