In another incident of racial abuse against people from Northeast region amid the scare over COVID-19 pandemic, two men from Nagaland were denied entry at the grocery store in Karnataka’s Mysuru.
The staff of the large retail chain allegedly called these men as Chinese nationals and said they are not to be allowed entry into the store.
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The Mysuru City Police tweeted the incident and has filed an FIR.
The store’s manager and the staff has also been taken into custody.
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There were two men who went to the store and in a video taken by one of them, it can be seen that the Nagaland men were requesting the staff of More Megastore to let them in.
“We are also human beings like you. Why are you stopping us? We are showing you our Aadhaar cards,” the men said in the video.
The staff, wearing masks and with gloves, however, refused to let them in.
After that another employee of the store came out and he tried to snatch the mobile phone and warned the man not to record the video.
There were several customers in the store, but no one intervened.
The store and its staff have been severely criticised and several people wrote about the incident in their twitter handles.
“I am pained, shocked and in my worst awe seeing this video! When has humanity stooped so low? I kindly request Shri @narendramodi ji Shri @AmitShah ji to look into the matter!” twitted Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
I am pained, shocked and in my worst awe seeing this video!
When has humanity stooped so low?
I kindly request Shri @narendramodi ji Shri @AmitShah ji to look into the matter!#RacismIsAVirus #NortheastIndia #justice@Neiphiu_Rio @PemaKhanduBJP @SangmaConrad @sarbanandsonwal pic.twitter.com/4qU0A23b6e— Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) March 29, 2020
Lashing out at the store, Mysuru City Police tweeted, “A video showing discrimination against Naga migrants in a More outlet was noticed in Mysuru and immediately FIR has been lodged in Krishnaraja police station and the Manager and staff of the outlet have been taken to custody. We urge people and shop owners/staff to desist from doing such acts and behave responsibly in this time of crisis,”
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao tweeted action will be taken against harassment of people from the northeast.
“Some misguided persons have made unwanted Covid 19 remarks against our brethren from NorthEastern States. These misguided will be dealt with very sternly. Brothers & Sisters from NorthEast, you are secure here, approach nearest Police station or Me directly Live Fearless,” Rao tweeted.
Some misguided persons have made unwanted Covid 19 remarks against our brethren from NorthEastern States. These misguided will be dealt with very sternly.Brothers & Sisters from NorthEast, you are secure here, approach nearest Policestation or Me directly Live Fearless.
— Bhaskar Rao IPS (@deepolice12) March 29, 2020
Reacting to the video and the tweets, More Megastores tweeted, “More Retail does not accept discrimination of any kind in its stores. Our stores are open to all citizens of the country. This incident will be immediately investigated. We adhere to all the norms of State & Central Authorities and also request all the customers to follow the same.”
This is not the first incident as reports of harassment on people from the northeast have surfaced from several cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, a 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly spitting paan at a Manipuri woman and calling her “coronavirus” in Delhi.