Political leaders and social media users across the country have condemned the alleged racial abuse of three women from Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, with Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma asserting that such discrimination against people from the Northeast “must stop”.
The Sikkim government described the incident as “deeply unfortunate and profoundly disturbing”, urging Delhi authorities to ensure a swift, impartial and transparent investigation. “Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and runs counter to the constitutional values of equality, dignity, and unity that define our nation,” a statement said, calling for strict legal action.
The outrage follows the circulation of a purported video showing a woman allegedly calling the Arunachali tenants “momo” and accusing them of working as sex workers in a “massage parlour” for Rs 500. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified, though it has been widely shared online.
The February 20 incident
According to police, the confrontation took place around 3.30pm on February 20 when drilling and electrical installation work was under way at the women’s fourth-floor rented accommodation. Dust from the work reportedly fell onto a neighbour’s balcony below, triggering an argument.
One of the women, who is preparing for the UPSC examinations, said that despite apologising for the inconvenience, the couple allegedly escalated the matter.
“Instead of talking about the main issue, they started targeting the northeast. They kept saying that northeastern people are illiterate. We do ‘dhandhebazi’ for Rs 500. They even threatened to beat me up,” she said.
In the video, a woman can be heard saying, “Rs 500 mei massage parlour mei kaam karne waali dhandhewali... Are you sitting here to do business? Have you opened a massage parlour at home?”
When confronted over the remarks, the accused woman allegedly said, “Try sleeping with my husband and see how much strength he has. You run a massage parlour, you'll find out.”
Another Arunachali neighbour who intervened claimed she too was abused and threatened. “The man's wife kept boasting that his husband's father is a customs officer and threatened me, saying ‘we'll make you strip and dance’,” she alleged.
Police case registered
An FIR has been lodged at Malviya Nagar police station under Sections 79 (word intended to insult a woman's modesty), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 3(5) (common intention) and 196 (promoting enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Harsh Singh and his wife Ruby Jain. No arrests had been made at the time of publication.
The women also alleged that the couple filed a counter-complaint and involved the police over what they termed a minor issue. “The police came and noted our names, yet the couple continued hurling racial slurs at us in front of the officer,” one of them said.
A recurring concern
The incident has revived memories of earlier cases of violence and racial prejudice against people from the region, including the 2014 killing of Nido Taniam in Delhi after he was assaulted over remarks about his appearance.
Advocate Reena Rai, representing the women, said the episode underscored the persistent discrimination faced by Northeastern citizens in the capital. “We are as much Indian as anyone else. Why are we treated like outsiders just because we are from the northeast? We, too, have the right to live with equality and dignity,” she said.
The three women have demanded a formal apology as calls intensify for accountability and stronger safeguards for citizens from the Northeast.
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