New Delhi – Students from Delhi University, under the banner of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Delhi unit, staged a protest on Thursday outside the Model Town Police Station. They condemned the police’s refusal to register an FIR after a brutal mob attack on a North-Eastern family’s meat shop in Vijay Nagar on Wednesday.
The mob, reportedly linked to Hindutva groups, accused the family of selling beef. They thrashed the shopkeeper mercilessly, leaving him injured. His wife and children were left traumatised. Bystanders recorded the attack, during which the mob shouted hate slogans like “Desh ke gaddaron ko goli maaro saalon ko.”
Eyewitnesses said the attackers also demanded police raids on flats of North-Eastern and Kerala students, accusing them of eating beef.
SFI activists tried to intervene and protect the victims. However, they too were targeted. “They attacked anyone who tried to help,” said SFI DU Convenor Sohan Yadav. “This is brahmanical hatred and xenophobia. We won’t tolerate it.”
Simran, SFI DU Co-Convenor, added, “They profiled us and demanded to check our bags, assuming we carried beef. This is a planned attempt to criminalise NE and Kerala students.”
The attack has caused outrage across the North Campus. Many students expressed concern over increasing violence against migrants. Former MP Brinda Karat contacted the police, who assured safety for the victims and students.
Despite this, the police have not yet made any arrests. They said they would first conduct a fact-finding inquiry before filing an FIR. SFI condemned this delay, demanding immediate registration of the FIR and arrest of the attackers.
An SFI delegation met the Station House Officer of Model Town Police Station, pressing for action. “We will keep up the pressure until justice is served,” said the students. “The cultural rights and safety of the North-Eastern community must be respected.”
SFI has vowed to continue protests against such communal, xenophobic, and majoritarian violence, stating, “We will defend our campus and country against this hatred.”
