The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) condemns the killing of Kamsing Rongphar, a Karbi tribal from the Karbi Anglong District of Assam, in Bangalore on the 23rd of May, 2013. He came to Bangalore for the first time on the 22nd of May, 2013 to visit his brother-in-law residing at a place on Magrath Road (which is near Garuda Mall) in Bangalore. On the 23rd of May 2013 at about 01:00 AM, some unknown people came and knocked the door. He opened the door and was taken away by them. His brother-in-law and friends searched for him the whole day. They also informed the Police. His dead body was finally found at Victoria Layout, Bangalore, tied to a tree near the Army Staff quarters. His body was full of bruises and blood. It is surprising that the police reported it as a suicide case, while his friends were convinced that he was first beaten and killed, and then his body was hung from a tree, to make it appear that he had committed suicide.

Furthermore, the Karnataka Police were in a hurry and they themselves cremated the body on the 24th of May. There have been threats and attacks on Northeast people living in Bangalore even before and after the Mass Exodus of the Northeast people in 2012. Similarly there have been attacks on Northeast people living in Delhi and other mega cities in India over the past two decades. For instance, as reported in the newspapers, on 29th of May 2013, Ms A.S. Reingamphi alias A.S. Solam from Ukhrul district of Manipur was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her rented accommodation, House no. 424/B , Ground Floor, Chirag Delhi, New Delhi -110017 under Malviya Nagar Police Station in India’s capital Delhi. There were signs of brutal mutilation on her nose, face and legs. Her eyelids were scratched, eyes were bleeding and her body lay in a pool of blood.

Several social organizations and groups have been condemning the racial discrimination and attacks on Northeast people. A number of appeals have gone to the Home Ministry and Minority Commission in Delhi and despite all these, attacks on the Northeast people continue unabated even till today.

The NCCI therefore,

• Strongly condemns the killing of Kamsing Rongphar in Bangalore on 23rd May 2013 and Ms A.S. Reingamphi on 29th May 2013.

• Vehemently denounces continued attacks on Northeast people in Karnataka, Delhi and elsewhere.

• Expresses grave concern on the deeply rooted discrimination of the north-eastern people in India.

• Urges the governments and civil societies to protect and respect the lives of the north-eastern people so that they are treated with equal respect and dignity as fellow citizens of India.

• Urges the Police Departments in India, especially in Karnataka and Delhi to provide security to all the north-eastern people wherever they may be living in India, whether they come for study, visit, and work or on Government duty.

NCCI