New Delhi, February 25 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Wednesday that atrocities against people from the Northeast will not be tolerated, and strong action will be taken against those committing such crimes.
Rijiju and Khandu were responding to an incident involving three girls from Arunachal Pradesh who were allegedly subjected to racial abuse by their neighbors in the Malviya Nagar area of south Delhi.
The Union Minister said that he and his office had been in contact with the relevant authorities since the incident was reported.
"I have personally spoken to the police and am following up on the action. Arrests have been made, and strong legal action will be initiated. We will take necessary steps to ensure that no one from the Northeast is mistreated," he told reporters here.
Khandu said that soon after learning about the matter, he spoke to the Delhi Police Commissioner and sought swift and strict action.
"The Commissioner is personally in touch with me. The accused will be dealt with according to the law," the chief minister said, adding, "We stand firmly with our three sisters, and their safety, dignity, and justice remain our highest priority."
Rijiju had earlier stated that there had been many incidents of violence against people from the Northeast, and in some cases, people even died, but no one was even asking questions.
"But now, the situation has changed. We are here to protect our brothers and sisters from the Northeast," he said.
A Delhi court sent the accused couple, Ruby Jain and Harsh, who allegedly hurled racial abuse at the Arunachali girls, to 14 days of judicial custody on Wednesday.
The couple were produced before Magistrate Bhanu Pratap Singh, who remanded them in judicial custody until March 11.
They were taken into custody following an investigation into the FIR registered at the Malviya Nagar Police Station.
According to police, Ruby Jain allegedly made abusive and derogatory remarks against the three women from Arunachal Pradesh during a dispute over repair work at their rented accommodation on February 20.
Police have invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the FIR against the arrested woman.
They said that the case was initially registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, invoking charges of criminal intimidation, insult to the modesty of women, and promoting enmity between groups.
