25-Year-Old Manipuri Woman Spat on, This Time in Mumbai

Mumbai, April 6, 2020:

A 25-year-old girl from Manipur was reportedly spat on in Mumbai earlier today against the backdrop of an increasing number of "racist" attacks against those from the Northeast Indian States. This latest incident of alleged discrimination has been reported from the Kalina Main Signal in Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.

Talking to Inside Northeast, the victim described her ordeal in detail. "In the afternoon around 2:30 pm, I was about to go and collect essentials distributed by Naga student leaders in Mumbai. While I was waiting to cross the road, I saw a guy riding a blue scooter coming towards me. He was wearing a mask, and when he saw me, he pulled off his mask and spat directly at my body."

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The victim says that the perpetrator -- whom she describes as a thin man in his mid 20's -- did it on purpose. "Yes, I think he did it because he wanted to. Immediately, I thought that I could get a corona infection, that is the first thought that came to mind. You do not expect such things from a complete stranger which is why this incident has left me completely rattled."

"I was in shock, and I was embarrassed. I have been staying in Mumbai my adopted city for 6 years now and this is the first time that something like this has happened to me", the Manipur woman further told us, still in apparent shock.

The victim says that she filed an FIR at the Vakola Police Station, and is waiting for justice. "They (the police) said you can rest, don't worry. They said I can rest easy, but I don't know what will happen next", she told us.

Talking to Inside Northeast, the General Secretary of the Manipur Students' Association Delhi, said, "We highly condemn the incident that happened earlier today. There are also various other incidents which are similar to this and we strongly decry such acts which are apparently racially motivated."

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It is generally believed that prejudice against those hailing from the Northeast Indian states has seen a sharp spike in the aftermath of the outbreak of the coronavirus or COVID-19. Across the nation, several such incidents of racial profiling have been reported and the term "corona" has found acceptance as a pejorative against those with mongoloid features. This, it is widely believed to draw linkage to China, where the novel coronavirus is first said to have spread to humans.

In a statement issued earlier today by the Manipur Students' Association Delhi in the aftermath of the incident, the student body has decried what it conceives to be yet another person with mongoloid features.

The student body also said that it is now organizing an online placard campaign to combat racism, where people have been advised to hold up placards decrying "racism" alongwith common slogans such as "fight against racism".

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