Alien in homeland,students from North East protest

Marngam Bagra,a student of JNU from Arunachal Pradesh where matriarchal culture is a way of life,feels that molestation has become a part of everyday life for her and other girls from North East states.

“The moment I leave my campus,I am no longer safe,not even in Munirka,the nearest residential area. That is why if a North Eastern girl comes to JNU,we don’t allow her to go back during night. We pester her to stay back and leave in the morning instead,” Bagra says.

It is not just the girls who fear for their safety,the boys,too,have similar concerns.

Mongve Rongpi from Assam recalls how he was stopped by a group of men as he was driving on a deserted road. The group threatened to beat him up. Without second thoughts,Rongpi fled from the area.

Students allege that even the government authorities are unhelpful. Sometimes the police blame their attire for the attacks or sometimes they just don’t bother,the students say. “The obsession with our attire is too much. Girls from Delhi wear similar clothes,but we are singled out because we look different,” Jasmine Rupini says.

There are,however,some who feel that discrimination is a wider phenomenon and involves other communities as well with no girl being safe. “The fault also lies within us. We hardly mingle with anyone. Until and unless the people know us,they will always feel we are different,” says Abraham Debbarma from Tripura.

Talking about the Saturday murder Debbarma says,“It is always important to look for houses where the landlord is nice. Also,North Easterners,when they come to Delhi,should get in touch with their seniors so that they are united to face challenges.”