Another alleged assault involving women from Northeast India in Delhi has triggered fresh concern over safety, discrimination and police response in the national capital, especially after the victims claimed they were harassed in public while bystanders watched without intervening.
New Delhi, May 11 : Two young women from Assam and Nagaland were allegedly harassed and physically assaulted in South Delhi’s Nehru Place early Sunday morning, in an incident that has once again drawn attention to the safety of Northeastern women living in the capital.
According to the victims, the incident began at a roadside tea stall when a group of men allegedly approached them, passed lewd comments and started behaving aggressively.
When the women objected, the situation reportedly turned violent. One of the victims alleged that her friend was slapped, surrounded and assaulted by multiple men, while her clothes were also torn during the attack.
“What disturbed us even more was that people were recording videos instead of helping,” one of the women reportedly said while recounting the incident.
The victims further claimed that despite repeatedly seeking help, police response remained slow and insensitive in the initial stages .According to their account, officers at Kalkaji Police Station were initially reluctant to register an FIR. They alleged that even after intervention by the Northeast Special Police Unit, they were not immediately provided a copy of the complaint.
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The women also claimed that the accused continued intimidating them after the incident, allegedly following them and issuing threats through social media platforms.
Social activist Dr Ghritashri Bhuyan Narula, who assisted the victims, criticised what she described as serious lapses in police handling of the case.
“These are not incidents that can be treated casually. Women were allegedly assaulted in a public place and needed protection even after the incident,” Narula said.
She also stated that the victims had to be escorted home late at night due to safety concerns and demanded immediate arrests of those involved.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari confirmed that a case has been registered and said the identities of the accused have already been established.
“Necessary action is being taken and arrests will follow,” he said.
The incident has reignited wider concerns over the treatment and safety of people from Northeast India in Delhi, where complaints involving racial remarks, harassment and public abuse have surfaced repeatedly over the years.
The latest case has also renewed criticism over bystander inaction, with many questioning why people chose to film the incident instead of helping the victims.
The alleged assault comes shortly after another case in Malviya Nagar, where Northeastern women were reportedly attacked following derogatory comments, further raising questions about public safety and law enforcement response in the capital.
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