Tripura youth’s racial abuse case: Pradyot Deb Barma demands blocking of accused’s channel, says jail not enough

A Delhi court has remanded Amir Shokeen to five days of police custody in connection with a case involving alleged racial remarks against Lesenjit Reang, a man from Tripura, in a video.

The accused has been arrested and will be taken to Ahmedabad for identification and to facilitate the arrest of other persons allegedly involved in the case, according to the details of the court proceedings.

Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma welcomed the arrest but called for stricter action, arguing that it should serve as a precedent against racial discrimination based on a person’s region, home state, physical appearance or community.

“I am happy that he has been arrested, but he should be made an example of,” Deb Barma said, adding that the incident appeared to have been driven by a desire to gain online views and earn money.

He argued that arrest and imprisonment alone would not be sufficient and called for the blocking of the accused’s channel, as well as those of others who allegedly use similar tactics to make their videos go viral.

Deb Barma said he remained in regular contact with the Tripura Students Forum (TSF) in Delhi and frequently met its members. He also confirmed that Reang, who hails from Anandabazar in Tripura, had arrived to meet him.

Recounting his encounter with the accused, Reang said it was the first time he had met Shokeen and that he had no prior acquaintance with him.

“He simply referred to himself as a friend of one of my friends. I didn't know him beforehand. I do know another friend of his, but I had never seen him before. That was the first time I ever saw him,” Reang said.

The case has brought renewed attention to concerns over alleged racial harassment and discriminatory remarks targeting people from the Northeast in other parts of the country.