Justice for Loitam, Dana gains steam
The north-eastern community along with other students in Bengaluru and Delhi has strongly reacted to the shocking deaths of Richard Loitam, a student from Manipur, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances and Dana Sangma, a student of Amity University from Meghalaya, who committed suicide after allegedly being mistreated by college authorities.
However, Amity University denied allegations on Friday that Dana Sangma was discriminated against.
Campaigners seeking justice for the two have been holding demonstrations over the past week, claiming that students from the Northeast are racially profiled in colleges and receive unfair treatment from police and authorities.
Recently, the National Students’ Union of India, along with students from various institutes held demonstrations at the Amity University campus in Noida and Maina Shera, a cousin of Dana Sangma, organised a candlelight vigil at the India Gate and Jantar Mantar against the administration and the police for not taking quick action against those responsible for the suicide of the 21-year-old MBA student.
Maina, a student of Shri Ram College, says the students would agitate until the truth is out. “My cousin was a target, but this could happen to anyone. The protest is to prevent students against such torture. We want speedy justice, strict laws, actions and sound system in place for the Northeast community. With lot of pressure and support, the Amity University authorities has vouched for quick action,” she says adding that they’re more protest being organised in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Guwahati and Meghalaya by the Northeast students.
To support the cause, Facebook along with many online forums are flooded with groups and page seeking justice for Dana and Richard, supported by thousands of students. Sanayaima Msad, secretary, Manipur Students Association, Delhi says, “The Northeast community is most vulnerable in Delhi, especially girls. Also we have less political power to ensure our safety. We have been protesting for rights and anti-discrimination law for years, but no action has been taken so far.”
An online petition letter to the PM by Richard and Dana’s family is doing the rounds in the virtual world. One has to register and sign the petition to fight against the case. So far, more than 15,000 signatures have been registered. And not just the NE community, the appeal has been supported by people who feel strongly about the cause. Varun Gupta, a Ph.D. student, who has signed for online petition letter says, “I got a link through a friend and I signed at once. I feel this is usual bias of rest of India against the Northeast. I know it’s just the link in the ocean of Internet, but if it can bring justice to the soul, it’s worth it.”
There are some from media and college groups, who’re planning to make documentary projecting the racial profiling towards NE people in Delhi, which will be shot in Malviya Nagar.
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