The Delhi High Court Tuesday expressed concern over security problems faced by people from the northeast living in the national capital, and asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to respond to the issue.
A division bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the city government to apprise the court on the policies and action plan to deal with the issue.
The court took suo motu cognizance of an incident where Nido Tania, son of Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator Nido Pavitra, was allegedly beaten up by shopkeepers Jan 29 in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar market following a row over his appearance and clothing. He died in a hospital the next day.
"Day after day, there are attacks on a particular section of the society. Have you looked into whether it is a deep-rooted conspiracy? What is the Delhi government's stand on this issue? Almost 15 days have passed. Have you taken any step," the court asked the Delhi government.
"This is the responsibility of the state government to look into the issue. You (Delhi government) should come out with some action plan," the bench said.
The bench further asked the government to inform it on setting up new forensic labs, including reports about land, construction and infrastructure.
The court also asked the government to consider setting up special hostels for working women from the northeast as they were facing problems with landlords.
"Are you considering special hostels for working women as they are facing problems with landlords? What is the policy on this issue," the bench asked government counsel Zubeda Begum.
Appearing for Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General Sidharth Luthra told the court that it has set up a Special Police Unit to deal with the problems faced by people from the northeast in the capital.
Luthra also informed the court that police will set up a helpline service for the people within six weeks.
Upmanyu Hazarika, appearing for a group of people from the northeast, said that when people from the region call at the emergency number 100, the workers at the helpline do not understand the languages of the people from the northeast.
He told the court that several incidents of violence have been taking place against people from the northeast in the city, and recalled a recent incident where two Manipuri men were attacked by a group of people.
However, Luthra said police will increase patrol in areas where northeast people were living and ensured that "things will become more sensitised".
Meanwhile, the bench also asked the central government to consider if it was possible to "prohibit" people involved in racial attacks from getting government jobs.
The court suggested that the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act could be expanded to include other communities from the northeast.
Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra, appearing for the central government, told the court that a meeting was held between the ministry for the development of north eastern region (DONER), Delhi Police commissioner and nodal officer of northeast on crimes against people from that region.
He said the central government has decided to set up a support centre within a month at Chanakyapuri area, where professional counsellors will deal with issues faced by people from the northeast.
The court was also informed that DONER ministry will write to the home secretary requesting it to issue necessary instruction to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police to sensitise them about the issues related to people from the northeast, many of whom work and stay in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Mehra also said DONER and Delhi Police will sensitise people from the northeast about their rights.
"Whenever recruitment of Delhi Police is carried out, people from the northeast will be invited so that the number of police personnel from that region increases," he said.
Posting the matter for Wednesday, the court said it will pass an order on framing of final guidelines on the issue of violence against people from the northeast.
