Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Taniam who died last week
Rahul Gandhi today asked Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to look into the case of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Taniam, whose death last week after being allegedly beaten by shopkeepers in south Delhi has sparked widespread anger.
The Congress vice president reportedly called Mr Shinde after meeting a delegation of north east students this afternoon. He is also expected to show solidarity by visiting the groups protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Earlier today, the Delhi High Court intervened in the case and sent notices to the Centre, Delhi government and police.
"Delhi is the country's capital. How can such incidents happen in the capital? We need to educate the people of Delhi to make it a better place," observed a division bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw.
Nido, 20, the son of an Arunachal Pradesh legislator, died on Thursday after he was allegedly beaten by shopkeepers at Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi. A medical report is expected to help establish the cause of his death.
Nido's friends have alleged that he was attacked by a group of men on Wednesday, after he reacted angrily to alleged racist comments at a confectionery shop where he had stopped to ask for directions.
After Nido broke a glass display window, the men allegedly thrashed him. The police reportedly took the student away and brokered a compromise in which Nido agreed to pay damages.
His father, Nido Pavitra, said he had told him the police dropped him back to the same spot and he was again attacked. Nido was found dead on his bed the next morning. His family alleges that he died of internal injuries due to the beating.
Nido's autopsy report said he had some internal and external injuries, but couldn't confirm whether these led to his death. A toxicology report is expected to give more clarity.