Expressing concern over spate of attacks on people from the North-East region in Karnataka, Delhi and Haryana, the Union Home Ministry got into damage control exercise on Saturday. Minister for state for home, Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said, he has met prime minister Modi and national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and apprised them about the issue and the government will soon hold a high-level meeting to find solutions.
"What steps must be taken to avoid such incidents from taking place in future will be discussed in the meeting. The government has taken issue very seriously with sensitivity," said Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh.
The home ministry is also expected to have a fresh look at the recommendations of the Bezbaruah committee to find solutions to the vexed issue. On Friday, the Gurgaon Police nabbed three persons accused of assaulting two north-eastern students. The police also confirmed that the attacks had an element of racial bias. Two youths from Nagaland, Aloto Chishti and Awang Newmei, were beaten up and assaulted by a gang of seven on Thursday. The attackers were reportedly inebriated and badly assaulted Chishti and Newmei who were later admitted to a private hospital with severe wounds.
Prior to this attack, a 26-year-old engineering student from Manipur was roughed up in Bangalore by a group of men who reportedly abused and then attacked him for not speaking Kannada.
Rijiju also hinted at changing the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against racial crimes if the situation does not improve. The home ministry's concern also emerges from the fact that the media in the North-Eastern states has reacted sharply to the attacks and the inability of the Centre and other states to stop such incidents from happening.
"We have decided to have a dedicated helpline and police force to deal with issues of students from North-East region. Anti-racial provisions are already there in the IPC, the need is to implement them properly. However, we will look into strengthening it further," said Rijiju.
Home minister Rajnath Singh has already spoken to Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah and recently appointed Governor of Haryana Kaptan Singh Solanki and requested both to ensure that the law and order is maintained under all circumstances.
He also urged them to take necessary action against the miscreants and to ensure the safety of all citizens including those hailing from the North-East India. The Union home ministry has also sent advisories to the state governments and Union Territories in this regard.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}