Agartala: Senior political functionaries in Tripura on Wednesday condemned the alleged racial harassment of a tribal youth from the state in Delhi and demanded swift legal action against social media influencer Amir Shokeen.The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media on Tuesday evening, purportedly showing Shokeen targeting the youth with racial slurs, abusive language and inappropriate physical contact.Reports said the youth, from a village in Gomati district, was allegedly taunted as ‘Chinese’ and was subjected to disparaging remarks about Tripura. The video also purportedly showed him being touched inappropriately and humiliated in public.CPI(M) state secretary and leader of the opposition, Jitendra Chaudhury, said, “Amir Shokeen, it is imperative that you kneel, beg for forgiveness, and apologize to the people of Tripura and the Tiprasa community without delay, as this is a matter of grave seriousness and not a trivial issue.”He urged Delhi Police to take stringent action against Shokeen. “Prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, and establish a precedent that is both resounding and unmistakable, ensuring that no one ever dares to insult Tripura and the Tiprasa community again, as his words and actions are inexcusable and will have severe repercussions,” Chaudhury said.Senior Congress MLA and former BJP minister Sudip Roy Barman called for a united response, saying, “While we regard and cherish them as fellow Indians, how can they treat our youth in such a derogatory manner? This type of attitude is intolerable and must be addressed; we must unite and organize a comprehensive protest in Delhi to confront these antiquated and discriminatory views towards the northeast.”Wasting little time in taking action against Shokeen, CM Manik Saha directed the DGP to coordinate with Delhi Police over the incident.Meanwhile, following TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarman’s call to the party’s youth and students’ wings to file an FIR against Shokeen, the Youth Front of TIPRA Motha filed a complaint at NCC police station in Agartala.
