‘Opened a massage parlour?’ 3 northeastern women ‘racially abused’ by neighbours in south Delhi; video goes viral | India News

NEW DELHI: Three women from Arunachal Pradesh have alleged that they were subjected to racial slurs, humiliation, and intimidation by their neighbours in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, following a dispute over repair work in their rented flat.A video of the incident has now gone viral on social media. The TOI can’t vouch for the veracity of the video.In the video, the accused woman can be heard calling the women “momo” and asking, “Rs 500 mei massage parlour mei kaam karne waali dhandhewali (You work at massage parlours as sex workers for Rs 500). Are you sitting here to do business? Have you opened a massage parlour at home?”The women had called an electrician to install an air conditioner in their fourth-floor flat on February 20 around 3.30 pm. Dust and debris from the drilling work fell to the floor below, prompting objections from their neighbours, Harsh Singh and his wife Ruby Jain, reported PTI.What began as a disagreement soon escalated into verbal abuse and racially charged remarks targeting the northeastern community.The accused also allegedly made offensive remarks, calling the women “gutter-chaap”, telling them to “go and sell momos” and saying “northeast people are shit.” The man, Harsh Singh, was also heard using derogatory language. At one point, the accused woman claimed social and economic superiority, saying, “Teri aukaat nahi hai… custom officer ka beta hai woh… politician ka beta hai (You have no standards. He is the son of a custom officer…a politician’s son).”A police officer was present during the altercation and is seen in the video attempting to calm the situation. The women confronted the couple in the footage, one of them saying, “Everyone heard what you said about my image. You made false allegations that I drink alcohol. Go check my room if you find any bottles there.”The women filed a complaint at the Malviya Nagar police station. An FIR has been registered under BNS 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, language, etc.) against the couple. Section 196 is non-bailable and cognizable. No arrests have been made so far, according to PTI. “No physical injuries were reported. However, the complainants have alleged mental harassment and humiliation,” a senior police officer said. The women have demanded a formal apology, stating that the remarks targeted the dignity of the northeastern community.The situation reportedly worsened when a building broker allegedly informed the women that they would have to vacate the flat within two months due to planned repair work. The complainants have expressed apprehension about their safety and future accommodation.Police said further investigation into the matter is underway.