Northeast students protest death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania

A group of students from the Northeast today staged a protest here against the death of an Arunachal Pradesh MLA's son after being allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar.

The 19-year-old student Nido Tania, son of Congress MLA and Parliamentary Secretary in Health and Family Welfare Department Nido Pavitra, was allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers following an altercation sparked by their taunts on his hairstyle. "Police should take swift action in the case. We would not remain silent till the culprits are sent to jail," said Dhapo, a protestor.
Protestors in large numbers today gathered outside the Lajpat Nagar Police Station and raised slogans against the police.

Police have registered a case of murder under section 302 of IPC and are probing the matter. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered. "This is not the first time that a Northeast student has been targeted. We would continue our fight for our rights. We have come here to protest the brutal death of the Arunchal student. We want Delhi Police to take swift action in this case," said Sumokoji, a protestor.

The student's relatives alleged that he had an altercation with some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi on Wednesday after they made fun of his hairstyle. The shopkeepers then allegedly thrashed him to death.

Protests have also errupted on social media platforms such as Twitter, where citizens have strongly condemned the act and called for strict action against the accused. 

Our prayers are with you #NidoTania and your family. We will raise our voice for you Tania. #5pmJantarMantar

— Alok Rai (@BaaUSaheb) February 1, 2014

Death of Nido Tania! It's really painful & depressing! Shame India! Shame Delhi!

— Rahul Vasudev (@vasudevrahul) February 1, 2014

We are uncivilized, racists, hypocrites, misogynists, psychopaths, perverse. And on the top of all that, uneducated and cowards. #NidoTania

— Aditya Bhaskara (@aditya_alterego) February 1, 2014

recent death of Nido Tania is disheartening! whatever was the reason, but Delhi really has become cruel.

— Sanjeev koli (@sanjeev_koli) February 1, 2014

Taunting somebody for hair, height and colour. Is this what we expect out of ourselves? Shame on us. Lets fight for #Nido Tania

— Urmila Chauhan (@urmilachauhan) February 1, 2014

Lets fight against racist minded people.Justice to innocent life #NidoTania

— Angomcha Chingkhei (@acmeitei) February 1, 2014

Police had reached the spot and brokered compromise after which Tania returned to his Safdarjung home with his friends. However, he did not wake up the next day. When his friends took him to AIIMS, he was declared brought dead.

Police said they were waiting for the viscera report while two shopkeepers identified as Farhan and Akram have been arrested. The initial post-mortem has not revealed "much injury or aberration". His viscera samples have been preserved to zero in on the cause of death, police said. 

Also read: Outrage in North East over the murder of Arunachal student by a mob in Delhi