Arunachal student's killing: HC takes suo motu cognisance

The Delhi high court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the killing of an Arunachal Pradesh student, who was allegedly beaten by some shopkeepers here, and asked the Centre to file a report on the incident.

A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Rajiv Sahai Endlaw issued notices to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi government and the Delhi police seeking a status report on the incident by Wednesday and also details of the steps taken for safety of people from North East staying in the capital.

Nido Tania, son of an Arunachal Pradesh member of Legislative Assembly, was allegedly thrashed by some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar area of south Delhi when he retaliated after they made fun of his hairstyle. He subsequently died on January 30.

The bench said the national capital belongs to everyone and the South Delhi incident highlights the matter of grave concern. It also suggested that the government should publish advertisements asking people to be tolerant.

The bench also received complaints from several law researchers from the North East in the capital regarding the harassment they have to face at public places. Tania's relatives alleged that he was thrashed by some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar on January 29 after he got into an altercation with them over their remarks on his hairstyle.

The police had reached the spot and brokered a compromise after which Tania returned to his Safdarjung home with his friends. However, he did not wake up the next morning. When his friends took him to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, he was declared brought dead.

The death of the youth is being attributed to the thrashing he was subjected to by the accused. The police have registered a case of murder under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and are probing the matter. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.q