A 27-year-old man allegedly harassed two women from Manipur by calling them “corona spreaders” and asking them to go to China in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district on Sunday evening.
Chennai: In yet another incident of racial discrimination against people belonging to North-east India, a 27-year-old man allegedly harassed two Manipuri women, who work as beauticians, by accusing them of spreading COVID-19 and asking them to go to China as he assumed that they were Chinese nationals.
From ‘sisters’ to ‘go back to China’
The incident took place within the limits of the Saibaba Colony Police Station in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. On Sunday evening, the two women, identified as Maria (23) and Jenny (21) were taking a walk on Azhagesan Road when the accused, identified as M Vignesh, an ambulance driver, approached them. He spoke to them politely and even addressed them as sisters.
However, later he questioned them for walking there and asked them to go back to China. The affected women told him that they were Indians and belonged to Manipur. He then allegedly called them “corona spreaders”.
Form racism to physical assault and verbal abuse
While speaking to the Times of India Jenny said that the man, later, assaulted and hurled abuses at them. He even attempted to push Maria. Jenny added, “I managed to record the incident in my mobile camera and asked him to apologise. However, he denied.” Jenny said that similar incidents have happened with them in the recent past. On several occasions like when they out to purchase groceries, people call them “corona”. She added that she can’t tolerate it anymore and has decided to go back to her hometown. The two affected women belong to Manipur’s Churachandpur district. Read more
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