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Journalism of Courage
The family of 19-year-old Arunachal student Nido Taniam, who died after being beaten up by shopkeepers in Southeast Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar two weeks ago, met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at his Tughlaq Road residence on Tuesday morning.
Nido’s father Nido Pavitra, who is a Congress MLA from Arunachal Pradesh, said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday.
Nido’s death had triggered nation-wide protests and allegations of racial attacks on Northeast residents in the capital.
On Tuesday evening, Pavitra also met Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and requested the case be transferred to the CBI.
Pavitra also submitted a nine-point memorandum to Rahul and Shinde. In the memorandum, amongst other demands, the family has asked for the suspension of police officers for dereliction of duty.
“We want a free and fair investigation in the case. We do not want innocent persons to be dragged into the case and that is why we have asked that the case be transferred to the CBI. At the same time, we want justice for my son’s death. The accused must be given the maximum punishment,” Pavitra told Newsline.
“Our interaction with Rahul Gandhi was very good. He was very supportive. We will be staying in the capital until our demands are fulfilled,” he said.
The family is also learnt to have demanded that a separate Anti-Racism Act be tabled in Parliament. After his meeting with Pavitra, Shinde said his ministry has decided to hand over the probe into the death of Nido Taniam to the CBI.
“The family wants the investigation to be conducted by the CBI. So, we have decided to hand over the case to the investigating agency,” Shinde said.
Meanwhile, police on Tuesday made the seventh arrest in the case. The accused, identified as Sunny Uppal, runs an auto accessories shop in Lajpat Nagar, police said.
Investigating officers said the arrest was made based on the statements given by Nido’s friends.
According to his friends’ statements, on the day of the incident, Uppal along with the other accused — Farman, Sunder, Pawan and the two juveniles — had assaulted Nido outside the Rajasthan Paneer Bhandar shop in Lajpat Nagar.
Four of the accused were produced before the Magistrate on Tuesday and remanded in judicial custody until February 25. The two juvenile accused have been sent to a juvenile home.
Mizo students’ groups condemn attacks
Aizawl: Students’ groups in Mizoram have condemned the recent attacks on people from Northeast states in the national capital and said they would hold demonstrations this week to protest the incidents.
The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students’ Association) and the Mizo Students’ Union, both have condemned the attacks in the national capital, including the death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Taniam. In separate statements, both groups also condemned the rape of a 14-year-old girl from Manipur and the assault on two men from Manipur by a group of motorcyclists. The Mizo Students’ Union plans to hold a protest rally in front of Raj Bhawan in Aizawl on Wednesday.
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