Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent racial and physical attacks on women from the northeast, including the alleged assault on a resident doctor from Nagaland at AIIMS Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh on February 22.
“I strongly condemn the racial & physical attacks on women from the Northeast, including the incident of a woman from Nagaland. Such acts are reprehensible & have no place in society. India’s unity in diversity must be upheld through tolerance, compassion, & respect for dignity,” Rio posted on X.
On February 22, a female doctor from Nagaland, pursuing her postgraduate medical training at AIIMS Gorakhpur, was allegedly subjected to stalking, racial abuse and sexual assault by three men riding a motorcycle while returning from a mall with her friend in Gorakhpur. The accused persons reportedly passed sexually derogatory remarks and racially abusive comments, and intimidated the victims while following them for nearly 1.5 kilometers up to AIIMS gate where the situation escalated and the woman doctor was physically assaulted.
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A complaint was lodged at a police station located approximately 200–300 meters from the AIIMS campus. An FIR was registered and based on CCTV footage obtained from the mall and surrounding areas, the police traced the motorcycle’s registration number, identified the accused and subsequently apprehended them. The accused are currently under custody at the AIIMS Gorakhpur police station branch.
Speaking to Nagaland Tribune, the president of the Northeast Fellowship Gorakhpur, who is a final-year BTech student, confirmed that the culprits have been caught and are in police custody.
He remarked that while there are many supportive people in the city, such incidents reflect deeper issues of mindsets and prejudice. He further informed that although the incident occurred on the night of February 22 and the complaint was lodged immediately, the students came to know about the incident the next morning.
He said that the Northeast Fellowship extended support to the victim, and through an elder who is a human rights activist, they spoke with the police on her behalf and are assisting the victim.
The incident occurred just two days after three women from Arunachal Pradesh faced racial slurs and threats from their neighbours in a Delhi locality, and has triggered strong reactions from across the country and region.
Condemning the Delhi incident, Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M Scindia said any injustice against “our brothers and sisters” from the northeast will not be tolerated.
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma and Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang have also condemned the episodes.
In Nagaland, minister for Women Resource Development Salhoutuonuo Kruse condemned the attack on the resident doctor from Nagaland, terming it “deeply concerning”. She stated that any form of racial abuse or targeted harassment is unacceptable and undermines the constitutional values of unity and inclusiveness.
Senior bureaucrat Himato Zhimomi termed the racial and sexual abuse of a Naga doctor at AIIMS Gorakhpur “shameful and horrendous,” linking it to a wider pattern of racist and sexist slurs faced by women from the Northeast in different parts of the country. He asserted that such incidents must not be allowed to continue.
Abu Metha, advisor to chief minister, also condemned the incident, stating that people from the northeast contribute to nation-building every single day as Olympic medallists, artists, soldiers, filmmakers and public servants, yet they continue to face discrimination and abuse on a daily basis. He called for the issue to be brought to the forefront of the national conversation and urged for decisive action.
Medical bodies, particularly the National Federation of Resident Doctors of All AIIMS & INIs (NAFORD) have taken a strong stand on the assault on the AIIMS resident doctor. In a letter to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on February 23 NAFORD while urging for a swift and thorough investigation, also also sought security, counselling and protection for the victim, along with strengthened safeguards for female residents and members of the Northeast community in medical institutions in Gorakhpur.
Political condemnation has also come from the National People’s Party, with its Women’s Front issuing a separate statement strongly condemning the incident involving a young doctor from Nagaland who is currently pursuing her postgraduate studies at AIIMS Gorakhpur. It demanded a speedy justice and exemplary punishment for the culprits, which is necessary to send a strong message that crimes against women and acts of racial harassment will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The NPWF further called for adequate strengthening of security measures around institutional premises, especially in areas near hostels and campus gates, to ensure the safety of women professionals and students. Emphasizing that India stands united in its diversity, the statement noted that acts of racial discrimination weaken the very fabric of the nation and stressed the need for firm and decisive action in the matter.
