Delhi HC 'pained' by Violence Against Northeast people

New Delhi, Jul 25 : 'Pained' by continuing incidents of violence against people from Northeast despite its orders, the Delhi High Court on Thursday sought a report from the government on the steps taken by it to curb "the menace plaguing the society".

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice RS Endlaw made the observations while referring to the recent fatal assault of a young man from Northeast which was reported to be an incident of road rage.

"We are pained to note that inspite of our being seized of the issue of violence in the city of Delhi against persons hailing from North Eastern part of the country and further inspite of issuance of detailed directions from time to time, such incidents, rather than abating, continue to occur.

"There was a news report recently of a young man of North Eastern origin being fatally assaulted in an incident which was reported to be of road rage," the court said.

"There was a news report recently of a young man of North Eastern origin being fatally assaulted in an incident which was reported to be of road rage," the court said. The bench urged Delhi police to "act with alacrity" while investigating the crime and sought a detailed status report by August 11, the next date of hearing.

The court also accepted the suggestion of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain that a status report be sought from Station House Officers (SHOs) of certain sensitive localities in the national capital, setting out steps being taken for controlling or preventing such incidents. Kotla Mubarakpur, Lajpat Nagar, Munirka and some areas in and around Delhi University were the sensitive localities that were mentioned before the court.

The court also sought information regarding the measures taken by a Special Police Unit set up for dealing with crimes against people from Northeast and asked why the setting up of the cell "is appearing to be ineffective". It also asked the ASG to place before it the report of a committee constituted to look into the concerns of the persons hailing from the Northeast.