North eastern people mistaken as Chinese seek helpline

On Friday, the office-bearers of North-East India Welfare Association met Chennai city police Commissioner AK Viswanathan and complained that they were being racially discriminated. They have become soft targets for a section of people in the city, who mistook them for Chinese nationals.

Also, they added, many from North East states are being asked to vacate the houses or hostel rooms they have been staying in because of their identity.

Seeking the help of the State government and the police, the office-bearers urged the Commissioner to initiate steps to start a 24X7 helpline exclusively for them as has been done in Delhi.

In another COVID-19 related development involving foreigners, a police team from Tiruvallur detained 14 tourists, who came to the country from Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Russia, when they reached Tiruvallur railway station on Thursday.

After examining their passports and visa papers, the police officials called in a team of doctors from the government hospital in Tiruvallur to examine them to see if they were infected with coronavirus. After preliminary checks, the doctors said the tourists did not show any symptoms related to the virus infection. After confirming that their travel papers were in order, the police escorted them to the Chennai airport. Later, they left for Delhi by flight, officials said.

Meanwhile, officials part of the intelligence wing who visit the houses of passport applicants for verifying their address were asked to ensure their own safety during such visits. They were asked to wear marks to protect themselves.

They have also been instructed to alert nearby hospitals if they come across any persons with symptoms of the virus like dry cough, breathing problems and high fever.