- 7 weeks ago
A panel discussion anchored by Rajdeep examines the fatal assault on Manipuri musician Thangjam Vikram in Delhi. Rights activist Binalakshmi Nepram asserts that the attack is a clear case of racial violence rather than a routine rage crime, drawing parallels to the 2014 killing of Nido Tania. Dr Alana Golmei and Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves highlight systemic apathy, the lack of a dedicated anti-racism law, and failure to implement the Bezboruah Committee recommendations. The panel notes that out of 2,656 FIRs filed regarding crimes against people from the Northeast in Delhi between 2014 and 2026, only 33 resulted in convictions—a conviction rate of just 1.82%. Former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh concedes the figure represents a failure of policing and calls for greater police empathy and proactive measures.
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00:00I want to raise this question, is the national capital simply a city on a short fuse, where rage can
00:05turn into death?
00:06How is police going to curb these rage crimes?
00:09Does society need to be sensitized, particularly when you've got people from the Northeast involved?
00:15Will quick justice be a deterrent at all?
00:18Joining me now, Dr. Alana Golmai is General Secretary, Northeast Support Center and Helpline.
00:23Colin Gonzalez, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court.
00:25Vikram Singh, former DGPUP, Binalakshmi Nepram.
00:28Founder of Manipur, Women Gun Survivors Network.
00:31Appreciate you joining us.
00:33Binalakshmi, you go first.
00:34You were there today.
00:36Tell us what your sense is.
00:38Do you classify this as a normal rage crime?
00:41Or do you see it as a targeted crime in any way because Vikram was Manipuri?
00:46Because what we know, this happened on the spur because of the noise and commotion in the area.
00:54Rajdeep, first of all, the whole of Manipur and the whole country is mourning today at the loss of a
01:02brilliant music teacher whose lives and music should be with us today.
01:07But he is right now lying in a mortuary in all India Medical Institute Sciences in the mortuary.
01:14I was with his wife, his brother and his family whole day yesterday till the postmortem was conducted till about
01:219 p.m.
01:22At the moment his wife is grieving, his son is still trying to come at the loss.
01:28This was something that has hurt all of us and the whole country and the whole state is grieving at
01:35this stage.
01:35I just returned from the family at 8 p.m. too.
01:40So first of all, we wanted to say this was a clear case of racial violence.
01:45The reason is the narrative that this is spread by Delhi police and others that Vikram went down and tried
01:54to tell those people not this is wrong.
01:57Vikram, Tamo Vikram usually goes down to take away the waste or take a walk after a meal.
02:04He went down at 11.30 and then at about 12.06 he came running up.
02:11His wife opened the door and eight men followed him to the third floor of his building and in front
02:19of his wife and son assaulted him.
02:23And this is exactly what happened.
02:25As a musician, as an artist, Tamo Vikram was known to his family and friends as an absolutely peace-loving
02:33person who would raise a voice.
02:35As a result, how come? Ask this question.
02:39Are you calling it a hate crime or a rage crime?
02:41It is a clear case of racial violence.
02:45Eight men attacking a Manipuri man and beating him to death in the streets, in the capital city.
02:53It's a clear case of racial violence.
02:56And as it happened, it is exactly what happened to our brother Nidho Tanya in 2013.
03:0013 years down the line, this violence against people of Manipur and northeast of India has not ended.
03:08We hang our heads in shame at the way that not only in Manipur are we feeling unsafe of the
03:15three years of violence.
03:16When we even come to the national capital region, we are attacked for who we are and what we are.
03:23Why are we treated as second-class citizens?
03:26Why are we being looked at different?
03:29But we also know, Alana is here with us, that we created the Northeast India Forum Against Racism after Nidho
03:36Tanya was killed, beaten to death in the streets of Delhi.
03:40And we had asked for the formation of a Baisborough Committee report.
03:44We asked the government of India to implement this in letter and spirit.
03:48We had asked for the creation of an anti-racial law.
03:52Kiran Rijiju was with us, current union minister.
03:56We had put all, we worked very closely with the union home ministry to create so that we do not
04:02have this kind of debts again.
04:03It is the failure of just not in law and order, failure of Indian policies, failure at the central level,
04:12failure at the prime minister's level.
04:14To ensure that people from Northeast will save in Delhi.
04:18I hear you, ma'am.
04:19I hear you.
04:19Dr. Alana Golmai, you're a general secretary of the Northeast Support Center.
04:23Are you also going to classify this as a hate crime?
04:26Because there are conflicting versions that this was a scuffle that went horribly wrong.
04:30In the sense that Vikram did not raise his hand, but he was targeted.
04:35But was he targeted because he's a Manipuri or because we have rage building in the national capital?
04:41Rajdeep, of course, we are vulnerable, very vulnerable.
04:46We are a soft target.
04:48Had Vikram's face been some other non-Northease face, this attack wouldn't have happened.
04:54This attack wouldn't have happened.
04:56Whether we speak Hindi, good Hindi or not, it is not because we are fluent in language.
05:02The moment they see our face, that's where the discrimination starts.
05:05Like Bina was saying, yes, of course, in 2014, when Nido was lynched, we have been asking for anti-racial
05:13law.
05:13We need to set some deterrence.
05:14But until today, why?
05:16In 2023, when the new laws, when the three new laws that was passed, why not?
05:22We have been asking to at least have some kind of amendment that is in the Best Borough Committee recommendations,
05:28that is IPC 153C, that is to be amended.
05:32But then, till today, that did not happen.
05:35What is the specific law that you believe would stop a case like this and act as a deterrent?
05:41What is that specific element?
05:42There has to be an anti-racial law.
05:43There has to be some guidelines so that people are aware.
05:46But they know that they will be let free because they know that there's no law.
05:50Now, during 2020, when there was a COVID time, there was a massive distress amongst the noticed people
05:58because they were called as carriers of coronavirus.
06:01Even during that time, there was a spat on.
06:04A young girl was spat on.
06:05And then they called coronavirus, the accused.
06:08Till today, we're handling that case.
06:10But then it was not invoked under any sections that is under which is appropriate.
06:15But it was invoked under 509, which is outraging the modesty of a woman.
06:19You want a specific law, I take your point, specific law that looks at such crimes in the context of
06:24what you're calling anti-racism.
06:26Colin Gonsalves, is that really a deterrent?
06:29Do you believe that that would actually deter eight people from targeting a Manipuri musician,
06:35allegedly because there was noise and commotion in the area which he protested against?
06:43Actually, the reason runs quite deeper.
06:47And over the last 10 years, at least I know the last 10 years,
06:51there have been hundreds of crimes against Northeast people.
06:55Hundreds.
06:56So there's something about Indian mentality that we have become so intolerant and so violent
07:04when it comes to people who look slightly different, who talk slightly differently,
07:10and they're called chinkis, homos.
07:13And no police can ever take serious view of this.
07:17It starts with that.
07:19And then, of course, the violence has been extreme right across the country and is Peru on empty.
07:25He was appointed by the government to make a report and he did and wonderful recommendations.
07:32But I think it's been more than 10 years and the Indian government has not moved an inch.
07:39So you're also not willing to accept this as a rage crime.
07:42You're also insisting this is a hate crime.
07:48This is a hate crime and this is a hate crime of a very serious nature where people are lynched,
07:55people are killed, people are chased in Delhi as well.
07:59I have a case of a woman, a Manipuri woman who was found dead in a room.
08:05And after 10 years, that crime was never solved.
08:09So the police don't care really for people of the Northeast who suffer these injuries.
08:14And I don't expect they will.
08:18I'm going to stop you for a moment because I want to just put out, before I go to Vikram
08:21Singh,
08:22take a look at the crimes against people from Northeast just in the national capital between 2014 and April 30th,
08:282026.
08:29Over the last 12 years, 2,656 FIRs.
08:33Take a look at those numbers.
08:34Crimes against people from the Northeast.
08:362,656 FIRs have been filed, investigation pending in 74 cases, trial pending in 771 cases, 330 cases quashed, only
08:4833 convictions.
08:49So 2,656, only 33 convicted, conviction rate 1.82%.
08:56That's all.
08:57Vikram Singh respond.
08:58I mean, this really, if this happens in the national capital, God forbid what happens in places outside.
09:05Delhi police used to claim we are among the best police in the world.
09:09Here you've got a 1.82% conviction rate.
09:12And all my guests, yes, human rights activists are saying they don't see this as rage crime.
09:17They see it as hate crime.
09:20Good evening, Rajdeep and my esteemed fellow panelists.
09:22I would say this is a very dismal and a terrible picture that has come out.
09:262,656 FIRs have been a 1.33 conviction.
09:3233 convictions and therefore the conviction rate is just 1.82%.
09:36We'll try and come back to you.
09:38The image has frozen for a moment.
09:41Bina Lakshmi, you want to quickly respond though to those numbers that I put up on my screen.
09:47This just shows that the lives of people of North East in India, in this country, does not matter.
09:55But the fact is our lives matter.
09:58We have 45 million North East people living in one of the most sensitive areas of the country.
10:03A region which has given Olympians, which has brought laurels to this country.
10:08The region which gave polo to the world.
10:12The country which produced Indian classical dances.
10:14Yet, even after 80 years of India's independence, what a shame that we have not understood 45 million citizens of
10:23our country.
10:24Not even our history of North East of India is in the textbooks of our country.
10:28If only our children learn to live, both in rural and urban areas, to understand the beauty, the joy, the
10:37rigorous and the sensitivity and the beauty of the people of North East.
10:43We will not have this kind of musician.
10:47I take your point, ma'am.
10:48I just want to go back to Vikram Singh who rejoins us.
10:51Vikram Singh, look at those numbers again.
10:522,656 FIRs, convicted 33, conviction rate 1.82%, untraced are 1,465, quashed are 313.
11:03Those are shocking statistics really that are staring us in the face.
11:07You are not surprised, Colin Gonsalves, with them, are you?
11:15Colin Gonsalves, are you surprised with those statistics?
11:20Yes.
11:22No, I'm not surprised at all.
11:24We all knew that actually the Indian police is scarcely interested in prosecuting these kind of cases.
11:31There's a special police unit in Delhi called Spooner, which is headed by a senior officer from the Northeast.
11:39And these Spooner units were supposed to be set up right across the country, not done.
11:44All the recommendations of base were not done.
11:47So, there is a… It's just that India has become such a violent country.
11:53We have a special Northeast cell.
11:53That violence and hatred and racism seems to have gone into our plot.
11:58Delhi police, Mr. Gonsalves, claim there is a Northeast cell to address specific grievances.
12:05Yes, Spooner.
12:07Spooner. Spooner is the Northeast cell.
12:11Yes.
12:11He went to the Supreme Court.
12:13Alana's case, Alana went to the Supreme Court.
12:15And she asked that these Spooner units should be set up across the country.
12:19Now, Delhi has a Spooner unit.
12:21It does reasonably good work.
12:23So, it's successful.
12:24It could be successful.
12:26But across the country, that's not the situation.
12:30The Indian government should have taken it at the highest level of government.
12:34Let me get Alana on that.
12:36Alana, are there enough units where specifically, if you go…
12:40If a person from the Northeast goes to a police station, what is the experience like?
12:44Has that Northeast cell helped or not?
12:47As far as Delhi is concerned, they have this special police unit for the North Eastern region.
12:52This was constituted after the death of the Nido Tania in 2014.
12:57But today, yes, there is, for Delhi, the 1093.
13:011093 is the helpline number.
13:03But then, this unit also needs to be strengthened.
13:06They do not have even allocated budget.
13:09But then, they function under very, very limited facilities.
13:13And then, they do not have the power of a police station.
13:15But they are just a unit who can just…
13:18Is it there, Alana, in other parts of India?
13:20Is it there in other parts of India?
13:23Not at all.
13:23No, no.
13:23Best Barra recommendations, committee recommendations says that such kind of unit should be replicated
13:28in other metro cities of India.
13:31And also, the helpline number should be nationalized at 1093.
13:34So, are you saying none of the other metros have it?
13:36Are you saying, Alana, none of the other metros have it?
13:39They do not have.
13:40They do not have.
13:41And just to add to it, Rasdip, looking at the data, looking at the question, the convicted rate,
13:46I am like, you know, I'm so, I am not shocked, although, but then what kind of investigations
13:52are the police doing?
13:53Based on the investigation, it is supposed to be, evidence are supposed to be brought
13:57in, exhibits are supposed to be doing.
13:59What are they doing at the crime sport?
14:01What kind of job are they doing?
14:03There's so much of loopholes in the investigation that even I have taken up a case of a gang
14:09raped in Dwarka, now the victim is being actually, she did not get justice, is being already
14:15acquitted.
14:16The accused are acquitted.
14:17Also, there is a case in Kotla, Mubarakpur, way back in 2014, the case of a young boy,
14:23guy from Manipur, the case is still happening till today.
14:26What kind of investigation?
14:27Who are the experts?
14:28You need to have a team, experts to do all these things.
14:31But till today, there's so much of control.
14:33Vikram Singh, you're on, you know, Vikram Singh, really, you're on the mat.
14:36I know that our line has been breaking to you, but I want a quick response from you.
14:39There is something dastardly wrong.
14:41If there is a recommendation of a committee to set up these cells across India to ensure
14:45quick justice, why does it not happen?
14:48According to the, my guests from the Northeast, they are treated as second class citizens.
14:52Unacceptable.
14:53They're as Indian as you and me.
14:56Absolutely, Rajbeep.
14:56I share the anguish of all the federal panelists.
14:59And I say that there's merit in work.
15:00Dr. Alana says 1.82 convictions, percentage convictions is indicative.
15:05And mirrors what active steps have been taken.
15:09This is a very dismal and failure and an absolute failure by all standards.
15:13I had expected a lot from the Delhi police.
15:15No, no, who do you blame?
15:16I blame.
15:18When you showed the visuals, I'm absolutely scandalized also to see that the Delhi police
15:22who was standing behind those arrested had a very smirk and a smile.
15:26This is no occasion to smile.
15:28This is a moment of deep tragedy.
15:29And the smile is indicative of the fact how contemptuous the Delhi police are when it comes
15:35to such sensitive matters.
15:36Empathy is something that is expected of all upright police officers.
15:40What is wrong is of the fact that Delhi police should have been more proactive, more police
15:44presence in the sensitive areas, and also the conviction rate.
15:47Obviously, register the case and forget about it.
15:50So, you're accepting that the Delhi police or indeed the police in general is not sensitized
15:56when it comes to people from the Northeast?
15:58Very much, absolutely.
15:59And I have no reservations about that.
16:03I had expected a lot more.
16:04And whatever action has been taken, it is not reassuring to say the least.
16:10Okay.
16:10I just want to give one quick last minute to you, Bina Lakshmi, Nepran.
16:13Within a minute, sum it up for us.
16:15I have seen you over the years, are things better today than they were 20 years ago when
16:21I first met you?
16:22When it comes to crimes against North East, or you believe they've actually got worse?
16:27Honest answer.
16:28Rajdeep.
16:29Are people more sensitized?
16:31It has become worse.
16:32Because what happened to Tamo Vikram in Kilokri?
16:35This is not the first.
16:36This year, a young girl from Manipur was also thrown from the second floor and died in Kilokri.
16:43Rajdeep.
16:43So many crimes against Northeast people have increased over the past years.
16:48We hang our heads in shame that in the 80th year of our democracy, our citizens are being
16:54killed just because they look different.
16:56We are a country, a multicultural, a multi-religious country.
17:01It's time to reclaim that back, that we are a huge nation which can progress together and
17:07not be racially profiled and attacked and killed just because of who we are.
17:13The music of Tamo Vikram should be with us today, tomorrow, the years to come.
17:19He deserved to have lived.
17:20His wife deserved to have a husband.
17:23And his son deserved a father.
17:25We have lost him.
17:26And we weep with him and his family.
17:28And we hope it doesn't happen again to another family again.
17:32The country must unite to condemn this crime.
17:35Those culprits must be brought to justice.
17:38And his family must get the relief that they deserve so they can get on as a strong nation,
17:44as strong state.
17:45And this is the only way to move forward in this particular part of our country and the world.
17:52I'm going to leave it there.
17:53I've heard your voices.
17:54And I hope those voices are loud and clear.
17:57When these stories happen, we will continue to focus on them.
18:00There are parts of this country lynching in the heart of the national capital.
18:05And most prime time eliminates the news.
18:07That's the problem also.
18:09The media needs to recognize that the Northeast matters as much as any corner of this country,
18:15for God's sake.
18:16And I hope that they realize and sensitize themselves as well.
18:20I thank my guests for joining me.