'Save us from violence': Northeast groups urge Amit Shah for helpline no

NOIDA: Three tribal bodies have urged Union home minister Amit Shah to set up a "special helpline number for Northeast people" in Noida to address "discrimination and acts of violence" against the people of the region residing in the city.
The Chakma Welfare and Cultural Society, Noida (CWCSN), Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union, and Arunachal Pradesh Chakma and Hajong Students Association submitted a joint memorandum to Shah on Monday.
According to CWCSN president Santosh Baburah Chakma, Noida is the one of the areas in NCR where such a helpline for the northeastern people has not been established yet. "A substantial population from the Northeast is working in Noida. The population of the Chakma community in Noida alone is about 1,000 and they face acute discrimination and acts of violence on a daily basis."
He said that on August 13, two of their community members - Gyana Ranjan Chakma and Nivaran Chakma - living in Noida were brutally beaten up by their landlord and others with iron rod and bricks.
"The two suffered grievous injuries, including in their heads. They went to the hospital but they were told to go to police station first before treatment. Accordingly, they went to the local police station to file an FIR but as they are from NE, Noida police made them wait. Though an FIR was eventually registered, the accused are yet to be arrested," he said.
Speaking to TOI, Gyana Ranjan Chakma said, "I and my two friends went to the Salarpur village market in Noida on August 13 evening and were speaking in our native language. Some 7-8 drunk locals started abusing us. Later when I came back to my rented accommodation, these drunk people followed us. My landlord also joined the group and beat us with sticks and stones and even punched us."
"Most common forms of discrimination include passing lewd comments/abusive words, teasing, taunting, molestation, sexual harassment, physical assaults etc. They also face discrimination, harassment, denial of wages at work places, which are mostly in unorganised sectors. In most cases, they do not report the cases," the CWCSN president said.
Meanwhile, additional DCP (Noida) Ashutosh Dwivedi said the victims had approached the local police and action was taken on the same immediately. "However, investigation showed it was not a racist attack but one that occured in the heat of the moment. We have assured all help to the community members in case of any inconvenience to them."