Panel suggests separate law to protect NE people from attacks

New Delhi, July 27: A separate law with specific provisions to protect people from the northeast living in different parts of the country along with amendment of sections of IPC has been suggested by a committee set up after increased attacks on citizens from the region.

According to sources, the M P Bezbaruah committee, which submitted its report to Home Ministry earlier this month, had recommended a new law based on an observation by Delhi High Court which said one person from a state must not be discriminated in another state.

Such a law, the sources said, would help immediately address issues faced by northeast people, particularly over their safety and security, in the wake of increased instances of attacks on them especially in the capital. Moreover, amendments of some sections of the IPC and strict implementation of laws have also been recommended.

When contacted, Bezbaruah, a former Union Tourism Secretary, declined to comment on the details of the committee's recommendations.

"It is with the Home Ministry and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the report," he said.

The Bezbaruah Committee was set up after the death of Nido Tania, 20, following an altercation with shopkeepers and others at the Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi in January. Last week, another youth from Manipur, Akha Salouni (29), was killed after he was allegedly beaten by a group of five men in a suspected case of road rage in Kotla Mubarakpur in South Delhi.

The sources said that the committee, however, made no suggestion for enactment of an anti-racial law but strengthening and proper implementation of existing laws.

The committee was constituted in February to look into the various concerns of persons hailing from the northeastern states who are living in different parts of the country, especially the metropolitan areas, and to suggest suitable remedial measures which could be taken by the government.

The Terms of Reference of the committee were to examine the various kinds of concerns, including those regarding security of people hailing from the northeast; to examine the causes behind the attacks/violence and discrimination against them; to suggest measures to be taken by the government to address these concerns; and to suggest legal remedies to address these concerns.

PTI