Govt Admits No Data on Hate Crimes Against Northeast
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Mar 24, 2026
- 638
The Union government on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that it does not maintain any centralised repository of data on incidents such as hate speech, racial abuse, harassment, or discrimination against individuals from the Northeastern region.
Replying to a question from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai reiterated that matters related to policing and maintenance of public order fall exclusively within the domain of state governments.
He explained that responsibilities encompassing crime prevention, detection, registration, investigation, and prosecution are discharged by state law enforcement agencies, in accordance with constitutional provisions that classify “Police” and “Public Order” as state subjects under the Seventh Schedule.
The minister noted that while the National Crime Records Bureau consolidates crime statistics from states and Union Territories in its annual Crime in India reports—available up to 2023—it does not segregate or maintain specific data on offences targeting people from the Northeast.
Nonetheless, Rai emphasised that existing legal mechanisms are sufficient to take action against hate speech and racially motivated offences, including those directed at individuals from the region.
He further outlined steps taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address safety concerns, including issuing advisories to states, appointing nodal officers for complaint handling, and conducting sensitisation programmes for police personnel.
As part of targeted interventions, he highlighted the Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER) under Delhi Police, along with dedicated helplines and email-based support systems to assist victims and facilitate prompt grievance redressal.
Additionally, a three-member monitoring committee—set up following a Supreme Court directive—has been mandated to periodically review cases of racial discrimination and oversee mechanisms aimed at protecting people from the Northeast residing in different parts of the country.