Protests erupt in Delhi over Arunachal student's death

A group of students from the Northeast on Saturday staged a protest in New Delhi 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 Arunachal 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.

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.