Coronavirus | Take Action Against Those Harassing People From Northeast: Union Home Ministry Tells States

The Union Home Ministry (MHA) on Monday asked all states to take stringent action against those who are caught harassing people from northeast over coronavirus. Earlier, a case of racial discrimination surfaced in Delhi after a woman from Manipur was racially abused when she was on her way in Vijay Nagar area of North Delhi.

According to the reports, a man, on a two-wheeler, came and started abusing the woman by calling her ‘corona’. Later, he spitted 'gutakha' (tobacco) on woman's t-shirt. Soon after the incident, the picture of the woman with Guthka stain on her T-shirt went viral on social media.

The incident took place on Sunday night and an FIR has been filed under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Earlier, speaking to India Today TV, Bandana, who hails from the Northeast and is an advocate practicing at the Saket court, said of late there have been many instances when people racially targeted her and called her "corona".

"On Holi, some people called me 'corona'. They think people from Northeast India are Chinese," she said, adding that people from the region are targeted because of their appearance.

Riken Lama and Gaurav, students of Delhi University, said they too have been called "corona" in Delhi. "Besides this, in college, there were many instances when people called us Chinki and Chinese," they said to India Today.