NEW DELHI: A student of the Delhi University, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, fell victim to a racially motivated attack following a verbal spat in Delhi on Thursday.
The backdrop of this incident was a scheduled football match between Hansraj College and a combined team from Hindu and Ramjas Colleges, both part of Delhi University.
The victim, who is the captain of the Hindu College football team, found himself targeted on his way to the subway in New Gupta Colony.
Reports indicate that the student was subjected to racial slurs, notably being called ‘ching-chong, a derogatory term that has long been used to demean individuals from the northeastern region of India.
What began as verbal abuse escalated into a physical confrontation when a group of locals arrived on a motorbike and viciously assaulted the student with a knife, targeting his neck, forehead, and face. The severity of the attack left the victim in critical condition, necessitating immediate medical attention.
After hours of intensive medical care, the student’s life was spared. However, he will need to spend several nights in the hospital for monitoring and recovery. In response to the incident, the police have arrested all four of the assailants.
In a statement, the Northeast Cell of Hindu College expressed their deep sorrow and outrage over the racially motivated attack.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the racially motivated attack against a North-eastern student from Hindu college. Such acts of violence and discrimination have no place in our society as a whole. In the face of hatred, we must unite as a community to fight against racism, discrimination, and violence and hatred,’’ the statement said.
FLASH: The North East Cell of Hindu College condemns the recent attack on a fellow student from the North East. On September 20th, a student from the North East was subjected to racial slurs and a physical assault in broad daylight in New Gupta Colony, New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/PApVKFYjIe
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) September 21, 2023
This incident is a reminder of the persistent racism faced by Northeastern students in Delhi. In 2014, the tragic murder of 20-year-old Nido Tania from Arunachal Pradesh in the Lajpat Nagar area of the city ignited widespread protests against racial discrimination.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Northeastern students endured a new form of prejudice. They were subjected to derogatory slurs, with some being labeled as ‘corona virus’ carriers. This discriminatory behavior persisted even within the academic community, as students from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, reported instances of being unfairly stigmatized as the alleged ‘corona causers’ in 2020.