Arunachal student murder: ACHR calls for invoking of the Prevention of Atrocities Act

The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) has urged Delhi Police to invoke the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against the murderers of Nido Taniam, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, who was murdered at Lajpat Nagar market in New Delhi on Wednesday.

A fight erupted between students and local shopkeepers over some comments made about Taniam with respect to his hair style.

Taniam was allegedly beaten with sticks and rods by a group of seven to eight men and the Delhi Police failed to protect him despite being present on the spot.

"There have been increasing racial attacks on the people from the North East India in capital Delhi. In addition to the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Delhi Police must invoke the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the murderers as well as the Delhi Police personnel who have failed to protect Mr Taniam, a scheduled tribe, from being beaten to death," said Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

The Asian Centre for Human Rights further called for trial of all the accused in a fast track court.