KOHIMA, Mar 4: Amid reports of discrimination, harassment and racial assaults against people from the Northeast in other parts of the country, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged communities from the region to remain alert and united.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the federation called on Northeastern citizens to stand together against racial, political and regional bias, stating that unity remains their strongest safeguard in the face of injustice.
The NSF voiced strong protest over recent racial and physical attacks on women from the region, including a disturbing case involving a woman from Nagaland. It expressed solidarity with victims who have faced humiliation, threats and violence outside the Northeast.
The federation cited the alleged stalking, obscene remarks and racial abuse faced by a young doctor from Nagaland at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Gorakhpur as a stark reminder of the prejudice endured by many from the region. It also referred to reported harassment of three young women from Arunachal Pradesh in New Delhi, describing the incidents as part of a troubling pattern.
While noting that several quarters have condemned the attacks, the NSF maintained that words alone would not suffice. It demanded prompt arrests, impartial and time-bound inquiries, and strict punishment for those responsible. Any leniency, it cautioned, would only embolden offenders and deepen a culture of racial hostility and gender-based violence.
The federation further called for preventive steps, including firm enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and improved security in universities, hostels and workplaces where Northeastern students and professionals reside.
Stating that repeated targeting of Northeastern women points to entrenched prejudice and ignorance, the NSF asserted that the dignity and safety of citizens from the region must be treated as a national concern.
