Three Northeast Students Attacked in Delhi, No Arrests Made

New Delhi, Aug 20, 2013 -- Three students from Northeast India studying at Delhi University were allegedly attacked by a group of locals in North Delhi on Saturday (17 Aug) night. One of the victims, identified as Lun (name changed), suffered head injuries after being struck with cricket bats. Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests have been made so far.

The attack occurred around 7:30 PM when approximately ten armed men barged into the rented accommodation of Gigin (name changed), where he and his friend Len (name changed) were watching a movie. The assailants, armed with iron rods, cricket bats, and baseball bats, reportedly beat and assaulted the victims inside their room.

Sequence of Events

Recounting the incident, Gigin stated, “Our caretaker entered my room without permission on August 14, leading to a heated argument. However, there was no physical altercation at that time. On Saturday evening, he returned to my room, glanced around without speaking, and left. Moments later, he came back with around ten armed men who forcefully entered my room and started attacking us. They used their weapons, even pulling out a gas cylinder to assault me. They shut the door and thrashed us mercilessly. We had no choice but to defend ourselves and managed to escape. As we ran, they chased us outside and continued the assault.”

Lun, a research scholar at Delhi University’s Department of Anthropology and a former president of the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Delhi, was injured while trying to mediate the conflict. “I was writing my thesis when I heard a commotion outside. I stepped out to intervene and pacify the situation, but the locals attacked me with baseball bats and iron rods. I collapsed, bleeding profusely. I was targeted simply because I am from the Northeast,” he told our correspondent.

Lun was taken to Hindu Rao Hospital for medical treatment, while the other two victims sustained minor injuries.

Delayed Response and Police Inaction

Following the attack, KSO leaders and journalists rushed to the hospital and Maurice Nagar Police Station to support the victims. However, they alleged that the police response was biased.

“The police registered the case under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 34 (common intention) but refused to file an FIR in Gigin’s name, even though he was attacked inside his own room,” said Thangminlen Kipgen, President of KSO Delhi.

He further stated, “The police took Gigin’s statement verbally but did not record it in writing. Instead, they registered the case only in Lun’s name. The house caretaker, who was the primary instigator, is now falsely blaming Gigin. The police made us wait all night just to receive a copy of the FIR.”

Despite the severity of the assault, no arrests have been made, raising concerns about the treatment of Northeast students in the capital and the police’s handling of the case.

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal
THE MIZORAM POST | MANIPUR CHRONICLE | ZOGAM TODAY

 

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