New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Wednesday said a woman and her husband have been arrested in connection with the alleged racial abuse and criminal intimidation of three women from Arunachal Pradesh in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar.
According to reports, an FIR was earlier registered at the Malviya Nagar Police Station against two residents for allegedly racially abusing and criminally intimidating the three women tenants from the Northeast. The case has been booked under BNS Section 79 (insult to the modesty of a woman), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups), and Section 3(5) (acts done in furtherance of common intention).
The incident occurred on February 20, when the women were getting electrical installation work done in their flat. Dust from drilling allegedly entered the apartment below, triggering an altercation with the neighbours. The three women alleged that the accused verbally abused them, made derogatory and racial remarks for their north-easterner identity and issued threats.
Meanwhile, Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday condemned racial abuse and criminal intimidation against three women from Arunachal Pradesh in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, stating that his office has maintained contact with the victims and Delhi Police since the incident and that arrests have been effected.
“Regarding the recent incident involving three Arunachal girls in Malviya Nagar, my own office staff has been in touch with the three Arunachal girls, and we have been in touch with the Delhi Police since day one,” Rijiju told reporters here.
“If any incident occurs in Delhi with anyone from the Northeast, we take immediate action. In this incident in Malviya Nagar, the police took action. I have been following up personally, and arrests have been made. We will take strict legal action and teach a lesson that people from the Northeast should not be treated badly,” he said.
Rijiju noted that past incidents of torture against people from the Northeast often went unpunished, with police sometimes harassing victims, but a special unit within Delhi Police now ensures prompt action under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
“Things are not like they used to be; they have changed… As a senior minister, my office constantly takes action on any Northeast issue. Others simply make demands… We, the people of the Northeast, are good people… However, if our Northeast is targeted, action will be taken,” he added.
