Delhi couple booked for racial slurs against Arunachal women
A couple has been booked for allegedly hurling racial slurs, including accusing them of working at “massage parlours” and telling them to “go sell momos,” while intimidating three women from Arunachal Pradesh in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, police said on Sunday.
According to Delhi Police, an FIR has been registered at Malviya Nagar police station against Harsh Singh and his wife Ruby Jai under sections 79 (word intended to insult a woman’s modesty), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 3(5) (common intention), and 196 (promoting enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence or language) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said both parties reside in the same residential building.
The incident allegedly took place on February 20 at around 3.30 pm, when the three women were getting an air conditioner installed at their rented accommodation. During the installation, some debris reportedly fell into the lower-floor residence of the accused.
Following this, the couple allegedly confronted and verbally abused the women despite their apology, police said.
The complainants alleged that racially derogatory remarks were made against them. Ruby Jai is accused of insulting the women by claiming they worked at “massage parlours” and telling them to “go and sell momos.”
A purported video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, allegedly shows the accused woman claiming her husband was the “son of a politician.” In the clip, she can reportedly be heard referring to the women using derogatory language and calling them “massage parlour workers.”
Advocate Reena Rai, representing the three women, said the incident reflects continuing racial prejudice faced by people from India’s Northeast in the national capital.
“As neighbours, they should have provided these women, who live far away from home, a sense of security. Instead, they harassed them and made filthy remarks,” Rai told PTI.
“We are as much Indian as anyone else. Why are we treated like outsiders just because we are from the Northeast? We, too, have the right to live with equality and dignity,” she noted.
Police said further legal action would be taken in accordance with the law.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Discrimination against Northeast people must stop.”
Many called it a clear example of deep-rooted prejudice against Northeastern Indians, especially women, who often face stereotypes portraying them as "sex workers," "momo sellers," or outsiders.
Posts on X and other platforms described it as "shameful," "fascist," and reflective of entitlement mixed with racism, with calls like #StopRacism, #RespectNortheast, and #JusticeForNortheast trending in discussions.
