Dimapur, February 25 (MExN): The National People’s Youth Front (NPYF), Nagaland State Unit, youth wing of the National People’s Party, on February 24 expressed its strongest condemnation over incidents of sexual assault and racial harassment targeting women from the Northeastern region in different parts of the country.
In a statement, the NPYF referred to an incident on February 22 involving a third-year resident doctor from Nagaland serving at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur. According to the statement, the doctor was allegedly followed for nearly 1.5 kilometres by three miscreants who passed obscene comments and hurled racial slurs targeting her Northeastern identity.
Near AIIMS Gate No. 2, one of the accused allegedly attempted to intimidate her and later engaged in inappropriate physical contact before fleeing when the victim raised an alarm. An FIR has been registered and four police teams are reportedly working to apprehend the accused.
The NPYF also cited a recent incident in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, where three young women from Arunachal Pradesh were allegedly subjected to derogatory racial remarks and harassment. It stated that such repeated incidents reflect a pattern of prejudice and discrimination against citizens from the Northeast, particularly women living, studying and working outside the region.
“These incidents are not isolated acts of misconduct — they represent a serious failure to ensure the safety, dignity, and equality guaranteed under the Constitution of India. The targeting of individuals based on their ethnicity and physical features is a blatant violation of their fundamental rights and cannot be tolerated in a democratic nation,” the statement said.
While acknowledging that law enforcement agencies have initiated action in the Gorakhpur case, the NPYF urged the authorities to ensure swift arrests, impartial investigation and exemplary punishment in both incidents. It stated that justice must be delivered promptly to restore confidence among the Northeastern community across the country.
The NPYF said it stands in solidarity with the victim in Gorakhpur and the three young women in Malviya Nagar and called for their safety to be prioritised.
The organisation further demanded stronger security mechanisms around educational and medical institutions, strict enforcement of laws against sexual harassment and racial discrimination, sensitisation programmes to address racial bias against Northeastern communities, and a dedicated grievance redressal and protection mechanism for Northeastern citizens in metropolitan cities.
The NPYF called upon the Central Government and concerned State Governments to treat the incidents with seriousness and ensure that such acts are not repeated. It stated that the safety of women and the dignity of Northeastern citizens are non-negotiable.
