Outrage: Northeast students protest death of Arunachal student

A group of students from the Northeast today staged a protest here against the death of an Arunachal Pradesh MLA's son after being allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar.

The 19-year-old student Nido Tania, son of Congress MLA and Parliamentary Secretary in Health and Family Welfare Department Nido Pavitra, was allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers following an altercation sparked by their taunts on his hairstyle.

Representaional pic/AFP

"Police should take swift action in the case. We would not remain silent till the culprits are sent to jail," said Dhapo, a protestor. Protestors in large numbers today gathered outside the Lajpat Nagar Police Station and raised slogans against the police.

Police have registered a case of murder under section 302 of IPC and are probing the matter. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.

"This is not the first time that a Northeast student has been targeted. We would continue our fight for our rights. We have come here to protest the brutal death of the Arunchal student. We want Delhi Police to take swift action in this case," said Sumokoji, a protestor.

The student's relatives alleged that he had an altercation with some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi on Wednesday after they made fun of his hairstyle. The shopkeepers then allegedly thrashed him to death.

Police had reached the spot and brokered compromise after which Tania returned to his Safdarjung home with his friends. However, he did not wake up the next day. When his friends took him to AIIMS, he was declared brought dead.

Police said they were waiting for the viscera report while two shopkeepers identified as Farhan and Akram have been arrested. The initial post-mortem has not revealed "much injury or aberration". His viscera samples have been preserved to zero in on the cause of death, police said.

A union of Northeast students demanded the immediate suspension of the two police personnel, who had brokered a compromise after Tania was allegedly assaulted by some shopkeepers. Addressing a gathering of scores of Northeast students outside Lajpat Nagar Police Station, the union leaders also demanded a written assurance from the commissioner of police B S Bassi that police would take strict action in the case.

"We are not from China or Japan, but are the citizens of India. We would stage protest till culprits are sent to jail. We also want the President of India, the Union Home ministry to intervene in the case as it is a serious matter," said a union leader, adding, "We have evidence against the culprits and police should act swiftly in this case".

Union leaders also asked the parties not to politicise the matter. "We don't want Congress and BJP to participate in our protest, but want genuine persons to come with us," they said.