March 28, 2025
March 28, 2025
ITANAGAR, Mar 15: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has strongly condemned the alleged racial discrimination incident of March 11 last when one Higio Gungtey, a student of Arunachal studying in Christ University, Bengaluru was brutally assaulted by his landlord Hemanth Kumar.
AAPSU president Hawa Bagang while taking serious note of the incident has sought the intervention of state government into the matter and also appealed MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju to take up the issue seriously so that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
This is not the first time as we have witnessed a number of such incidents in the past in which our students are victimized, said Bagang.
Also appealing the authority concerned to take appropriate action against the guilty at the earliest, the union has appealed the students studying outside of state to be cautious as well as focus on their prime priority, ie studies.
Meanwhile, taking strong exception of the incident, the All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) has also appealed MoS Rijiju, chief minister Pema Khandu and governor P B Acharya to take up the matter with Karnataka chief minister so that the accused is booked under ST/SC Atrocities Act, 1989.
Racial discrimination to people of North-East India and particular to the students of Arunachal Pradesh by people from northern and southern part of India is increasing day by day. People from all over India are peacefully staying in Arunachal Pradesh despite of ILP restriction and we never discriminate them. However, our people are always targeted in other parts of India which is matter of great concern, a statement from union president Byabang Joram said.
Outsiders are secure in Arunachal as they are doing business, government jobs, running private schools etc here, but our students are completely unsecure even in educational institutions, which is not a good sign, he added.
Also condemning the attack on Gungtey, the Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) has urged the state government to raise the matter with the Karnataka government so that necessary action can be taken against the culprit as per law.
APYC also requested Rijiju to act practically on the incident instead of just issuing press statements.
Gungtey was allegedly assaulted by his landlord Hemanth Kumar following a dispute over water.
Even though several charges were filed against the Kumar, it is reported that he has managed to get an anticipatory bail.
