Mail News Service
\nImphal, May 19 : To protest the death of Richard Loitam and O. Laaba and the attitude of Political party which remain as a silent spectator in connection with the death of students, a large students damaged BJP office and stormed other political parties offices today.
\nThe protesters attacked BJP office and damaged doors, windows and signboard and locked the main gate. The students then stormed the office of congress office however the security personnel posted there blocked the gate.
\nThe security personnel beat up students who tried to lock main gate. The angry protesters then pushed barricade used in road dividing. The students again closed the main gate of MPP office and proceeded towards CPI office situated at Rupmahal tank where police rounded up 20 students including students leaders.
\nAfter the incident, the general secy. of DESAM, Thoithoi while talking to press said, there is BJP govt. in Karnataka. The BJP, Manipur state unit did not the issue seriously. They didn\u2019t pressurize the issue. The congress govt. also did not pressurize the central govt.
\nVarious agitations will be launched if students are not released on or before tomorrow.
\nMeanwhile Asian Age reports that , \u201cA day after the long awaited histopathology report of Richard Loitam, who was found dead in his hostel room, was finally handed over to the police, Loitam\u2019s parents refuted the report which said his weak heart was the reason he died.
\nIn one of her posts on a social networking site, Richard\u2019s mother Dr Vidyabali Loitam, says that the histopathology report of Richard was \u2018baseless\u2019 and was only \u2018covering up facts\u2019. She said: \u201cMy son was an active football player and was in good physical condition. Moreover in his school here, he had to go through a medical check-up every six months.
\nThere was no indication of a heart problem so far. How can it suddenly happen?\u201d \u201cWe (parents) both are doctors and are fairly knowledgeable in medicine. If our son had shown symptoms of a problem, we would have known about it. The report calls it hereditary, but there is no significant history of heart disease in our family\u201d, she added.
\nRichard\u2019s parents are now planning to approach the Karnataka and Manipur governments for a CBI probe into the case.
\nThe Union home ministry on Friday asked states to adopt a \u2018zero tolerance\u2019 policy against \u2018racial profiling and discrimination faced by Indian citizens of Northeastern states\u2019.
\nIn an advisory sent to all states and UTs, the MHA has suggested stringent measures, including action against police officers if they fail to act on a complaint or any information received from a citizen hailing from the Northeast, regarding a cognizable offence.
\nThe move follows deaths of two Northeastern students, Dana Sangma and Richard Loitam in Gurgaon and Bengaluru in April, amid allegations that they fell victim to racial bias.
\nThe MHA has said, \u201cWhere a complaint or if any information is received from a citizen hailing from the Northeast, regarding a cognizable offence and no follow-up action is taken, then a serious view should be taken against the police officer concerned and also against the officer-in-charge of the police station.\u201d
\nIt says if the complainant is a member of the Scheduled Tribe, then the provisions of Section 4 of the SC\/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be invoked. This section prescribes imprisonment between six months to one year for a public servant who is not a member of the SC or ST communities and wilfully neglects his duties under the Act.
\nToll-free helplines should be made available, where services of any officer or any operator conversant with English must be provided, since it is possible that the complainants may not be able to communicate in the local languages, says the home ministry.
\nThe letter points to reports that people originating from the North Eastern states are facing discrimination \u2018as they are addressed with derogatory adjectives or face discrimination in the form of targeted attacks, assault, molestation and other atrocities\u2019. This has caused considerable anguish and distress in the minds of the people from the North east, it says.
\nThe home ministry says, \u201cQuick action by the police would restore confidence not only of the victim but also of the community and send a clear message to the accused that such behaviour would not be tolerated.\u201d It says when complaints are received from a person belonging to the North-East, particularly from women, the \u2018level of sensitivity and response should be of an even higher level\u2019.\u2019
\nThe states have also been asked to arrange outreach programmes , under supervision of DCPs or district SPs , in areas of northeast congregation to meet community leaders of such groups and address their concerns.<\/p>\n\n