Delhi Police spreads the message — embrace people of Northeast — through film

The 15-minute film was aired on DD Assam on Thursday and will soon be broadcasted on Delhi Police’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

Scripted by Delhi-based Madhumita Chakraborty, a journalist from Tripura, the film features several celebrities from the Northeast including Olympians Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain and also reveals various initiatives of Delhi Police for Northeast people.

“The nation applauds when Indian citizens hailing from Northeastern region win medals at Olympics and other prestigious tournaments. We enjoy their services every day. And yet, many of us do not stand up to object when a few misinformed, misguided among us call them derogatory names… Chinky, Momo, Nepali, Bahadur, Corona…”, the script of the film reads.

It mentions that several Indian citizens hailing from the Northeastern states, Ladakh and Darjeeling residing in metropolitan cities and towns across the country for education and employment, have been addressed with such derogatory remarks and subjected to racial discrimination, adversely affecting national integration.

Chakraborty says, “I too come from the Northeast but I do not have mongoloid features. People with such features face much more discrimination.”

She adds that people close to her have faced judgement and were hurled derogatory remarks. She attributes it to “ignorance” and “unawareness” of people.

However, now things have changed slightly, she says.

According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Security) Hibu Tamang, “The objective is to create awareness about the initiatives taken by Delhi Police for the northeastern people. We have a special unit — Special Police Unit for North-Eastern Region (SPUNER) and we are working day and night to assist our people in Delhi. Whenever they come to Delhi, they can take the assistance of our unit especially for students. We have a dedicated team and helpline 1093 to assist them.”

On an average, the Delhi Police’s helpline number for Northeast gets at least five calls on a daily basis pertaining to issues varying from stabbing, murder, accident, non-payment of salary, rent issues, discrimination to usage of abusive language.

Currently, as per police, the force has about 1,100 officers from the eight northeastern states who are rendering service at various districts and units of Delhi. The strength expanded following special recruitment drives held for constables in Northeast states in 2016 and 2018.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Delhi Police PRO) Suman Nalwa states that the force wants to convince people from other regions that it is a very cosmopolitan force with members from all over the country.

She says that if people from any particular section or region feel insecure, they can always approach us and we will do our best to ensure that we are able to assuage their insecurity and take corrective measures for their safety and security.

Delhi Police is intending to hold a special screening of the film for people from the Northeast living in Delhi.

A police official stated that the SPUNER unit has empanelled nearly 35 youth volunteers from the eight states of northeast to work as Delhi Police North-East Representatives (DPNERs) to assist SPUNER in helping people from their respective communities and act as link between police and people of the North East.

(With inputs from PTI)

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