Northeast tenants approach police after asked to vacate flats in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 18: A local Khap court held in Munika in south Delhi has reportedly set deadline for the family of the 14-year-old rape victim from Manipur to vacate their rented accommodation.

According to local sources, the 'khap panchayat' and Resident Welfare Association (RWA) of Munirka held a meeting on Sunday evening and asked the family to leave within three months. Reportedly, the Kangaroo court has also directed the people from northeast staying in the area to vacate their apartments.

Angered over the move, the people from northeast have approached the Delhi police. According to sources, the Khap has also prohibited tenants in the area from renting out houses to people from the northeast.

A group of students from the northeast gave a written complaint at Vasant Vihar Police Station on Monday.

According to Binalakshmi Nepram, an activist and founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, "The local SHO confirmed that a meeting took place. It was then that we asked the police to investigate."

However, Residence Association member in the area denied the allegations, said an India today report.

"Our meeting was about shops which remain open till 2 pm and attract anti-social elements. So we have decided to shut all shops by 10.30 pm. We also discussed installing CCTV cameras in the colony for better security and have asked every tenant to give a verification form", he said. Bhagwan Das, a Munirka Panchayat member, said, "No khap panchayat meeting was held and no one asked for eviction of northeast students. They can stay here happily and safely. We welcome everyone in Munirka village."

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (south), B.S. Jaiswal, also denied that such a meeting took place. "There was nothing like 'khap panchayat'. It was a misunderstanding between two parties which was sorted out in the evening. We assure that legal action would be taken against any landlord who forcibly evicts people from the northeast," said Jaiswal.

The recent racist attacks on people from North east in Delhi has forced a number of them to quit the capital city, said a Daily Mail report. Recently, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, Nido Taniam was beaten to death by some shopkeepers in Delhi.

A number of students from the northeast region live in Munirka area as house rent is cheaper there. The students, after the alleged Khap meeting, met Vasant Vihar police. "People from the Northeast met us and we assured them of every help. But no one has lodged a complaint regarding this", said police.

Oneindia News