Attacks on N-E people: MHA tells top cops to act tough

Incidentally, the meeting took place on a day when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was addressing a rally in Assam in which he said that there should be strong laws to stop such incidents. The MHA also told the state police that registration of FIRs in such cases must be compulsory and there should be no laxity in investigations.

The MHA had last month announced a committee headed by former IAS officer MP Bezbaruah to suggest suitable measures, including legal remedies, to address the concerns of the people from the Northeast in the metro cities within two months. The Home Secretary said  that “racial profiling” should be addressed and “ruthless action” initiated against policemen who fail to take immediate action on complaints from people from the Northeast.  The state police chiefs demanded that for more policemen from the Northeast to be inducted into the force in different states, the central government should come up with a standing order to earmark such vacancies.  The MHA also highlighted the deaths of Richard Loitam in Bangalore and Dana Sangma in Gurgaon, both in 2012.