NEFIS demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for strong measures to prevent such incidents in the future so that migrant communities are able to live and work in Delhi without fear or intimidation.

Groundxero | May 29, 2025

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has strongly condemned the brutal attack on a shop owner from the North-East in the Vijay Nagar of Delhi. The assault, carried out by a group of miscreants, was reportedly triggered by false claims related to the victim’s dietary habits. The shop owner was brutally beaten in front of his family by a mob shouting hateful slogans.

On May 28, 2025, Hindu nationalists and cow vigilantes, some linked to Gau-Raksha Dal, attacked a Northeast Indian shop owner in Vijay Nagar, near Delhi University’s North Campus, accusing him of selling beef. The vendor clarified it was buffalo meat, but the assault continued.

A report on the incident in the Indian Express quoted the police as saying – “Upon suspicion of cow meat being sold, some members of the public manhandled the shopkeeper. He has been provided medical assistance and his medical examination is currently underway.”

In a press statement NEFIS said,

“This disturbing incident highlights the growing trend of mob vigilantism, which continues unchecked due to the absence of strict legal action. Unfortunately, such attacks are not new. North-East students and residents have long been subjected to discrimination and violence, targeted for their appearance, language, and food choices. Women from the region are particularly vulnerable to acts of racism and sexual harassment.”

Denouncing the act of violence and the police’s complicity, NEFIS demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for strong measures to prevent such incidents in the future so that migrant communities are able to live and work in Delhi without fear or intimidation.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) held a demonstration in Vijay Nagar area on Thursday in solidarity with the targeted individual. The student organization strongly condemned what it described as a “mob attack led by fanatics” and demanded accountability for the violence on the shop owner.

Image Courtesy : Citizens for Justice and Peace.