‘Like Delhi, Hyd needs police unit to protect those from NE’

Hyderabad, Nov 25
In cosmopolitan Hyderabad, people from North East India continue to face racism and exclusion. And this has increased post Covid, reveals a new research paper authored by two Professors at the University of Hyderabad (UoH).
Their paper has been published in Scopus, an online database of scientific work by experts.
In the wake of the findings, social organisations from Hyderabad have urged the Telangana Govt to follow in the footsteps of Delhi and set up a Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER) to help people from North East India register their grievances regarding racism and exclusion.
Researchers also stressed the need for an anti-racial Bill to address discriminatory incidents.
Apart from being differentiated for their physical features and food choices, the research paper states that many are also denied rented accommodation in the metro city. And the assumptions about people are numerous: That they belong to either China or Nepal, eat dog meat and that the women, working in Hyderabad, are "agents of western and modern culture who pollute the local culture".
"Because of this discrimination, many have left their jobs in the city and either returned to their hometowns or relocated to other cities. If the Govt is committed towards creating a safe space for people from across India, it must set up this special cell headed by an IPS officer," said Kalamthai George Phaomei, president, Rongmei Organisation Hyderabad.
Members of other groups like the Hyderabad Assam Association, Hyderabad Manipuri Society, Naga Christian Fellowship Hyderabad, and Hyderabad Mizo Christian Fellowship, also made a similar appeal.
The SPUNER is a unit of the Delhi Police that works to ensure safety and security of people from the North Eastern States, Ladakhis, and Gorkhas of Darjeeling who live in Delhi.
It has been set up to protect them against unfair treatment through various forms of discrimination, including direct and indirect harassment, segregation, and address the problem of prejudices.
Currently, Hyderabad is home to around 50,000 people from eight North Eastern States. The Assamese community alone comprises more than 10,000 people.
"There is also a pressing need to bring in an anti-racial Bill to address discriminatory incidents," said Ajailiu Niumai, Professor at the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy, UoH who wrote the paper along with MN Rajesh, an Assistant Professor from the Department of History, UoH. The paper was written based on field surveys conducted across Gachibowli, Panjagutta, Nandi Nagar in Banjara Hills, and BS Makta in Kundanbagh – areas where the majority of them live.
"Though the Ministry of Home Affairs prohibited the use of ethnic slurs like ‘chinky' and made it punishable under the anti-racism law in 2012, this is a regular affair. And it is only increasing. We need strict legislation to arrest this," said Janice from Manipur, living in Gachibowli.