IMPHAL: In a novel initiative, the Manipur government will set up a panel of 11 lawyers to provide legal aid to Manipuris who fall victim to racial attacks in New Delhi.

In a June 16 order issued by the joint secretary, the state law and legislative affairs department appointed the 11 lawyers, including a woman, who are currently practising in different courts, including the Supreme Court, in New Delhi, sources said.

“Though I’m yet to receive the government order, the lawyers on the panel will have to assist the victim(s) of racial crime, from filing an FIR with the respective police station to tackling law courts,” Lenin Hijam, one of the lawyers enlisted in the panel, told TOI from New Delhi on Saturday. He added that a key task of the panel members would be to assist the prosecution in the court.

Many social bodies and human rights activists lauded the government for its initiative. “It’s a good step by the state government as many people from the northeast, particularly students, living in New Delhi are not aware of the legal aspects,” said Delhi-based social activist N Hanghal. “After filing an FIR with local police, moving on to the next legal step is crucial. This is where many people from the region face problems,” she added.

Hailing the government’s initiative, All Manipur Muslim Girls Students’ Union said it would help bring justice for victims of racial abuse. “We appreciate the state government’s initiative to set up the panel. Now, people of the state, especially women, can fight racial crimes,” said the union’s president Rukshar Chowdhury.

Recently, the national capital witnessed a number of racial attacks on people from the northeast. On January 25 last year, two Manipuri women were assaulted in Kotla Mubarakpur. This was followed by the killing of Arunachal student Nido Tania at Lajpat Nagar on January 29. A few days later, two Manipuri youngsters were beaten to death at Ambedkar Nagar and, in July, a 30-year-old student, A Shaloni, from Senapati district was killed. Another tribal student from Ukhrul district, Z Kengo, was found with his throat slit inside his rented room in South Delhi’s Kotla Mubarakpur in November. Kengo was a PhD scholar at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

