Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Prevent Crime And Discrimination Against The People From North Eastern ... on 30 April, 2012
> Title: Need to prevent crime and discrimination against the people from North Eastern States of the country.
DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA (INNER MANIPUR): I rise to draw the attention of this House to a very urgent matter of public importance.
On 29th April, 2012, that is, yesterday, there was a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and agitations in all the metropolitan cities of Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Imphal regarding crimes and apparently institutionalized discrimination against the North Eastern people.
Madam, to draw your kind attention, it is indeed very shocking for the people of Manipur, that one architect student, Roitam Richard was found dead in his hostel room on 17th April. Following that, there was a lot of confusion about how he died. Post-mortem report says that there were injuries all over his body and that there was bleeding on the face. But some others say that some days earlier to that, there was a motor accident. So, controversial opinions are coming out. In the meanwhile, his parents have gone there to take the body.His injuries were so grievous which clearly showed that something serious had happened. His parents have written a letter to the hon. Home Minister, the Government of India, with a copy marked to me. I have already forwarded the letter to the Home Ministry to look into the request of the parents to institute an inquiry at the level of at least the CBI so that we may go to the root of the problem and find a permanent solution.
This is not the only incident. Recently, D. Sangma niece of the hon. Chief Minister of Meghalaya, who was studying in Amity University, was found hanging from the fan of her hostel room. It was alleged that she was humiliated by the invigilator in an examination for using a mobile phone.
Even day before yesterday, on the night of 27th April, a Manipuri boy was beaten up in Delhi. A Naga boy, Joshua Muivah from Ukhrul district of Manipur was also attacked by some unknown persons. A series of such incidents are happening one after another. This has instilled a sense of alienation among the people of North-East region in their own country. We, as people belonging to this region, take note of these incidents and raise our voice in unison. The murder of Richard is very gruesome. We all condemn it. We should also pay attention to the other incidents of apparently institutionalised discrimination and crimes against the North-Eastern people.
I would request the Government of India, particularly the Minister of Home Affairs, to do something so that such incidents do not occur in future.