Hate crimes won't be tolerated: Home ministry

In the wake of the assault on two Naga youths in Gurgaon, minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju Saturday met a group of students from the northeast and assured that 'hate crimes will not be tolerated'.

In the wake of the assault on two Naga youths in Gurgaon, minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju Saturday met a group of students from the northeast and assured that "hate crimes will not be tolerated".

"The government believes India is a democratic nation and such hate crimes will not be tolerated. Our society must not be intolerant, we must exist harmoniously together," Rijiju said, adding the attack was "unacceptable".

He also said the government has decided to have a dedicated helpline and police force to deal with issues of students from the northeastern region.

Asked whether existing laws should be strengthened to prevent such racial attacks, Rijiju said, "Anti racial provisions are already there in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We will look into strengthening it further."

The Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh also said he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the national security advisor and decided to hold a high level meeting on the matter.

"What steps must be taken to avoid such incidents from taking place in future will be discussed," he said.

The minister met the group two days after two men from the Nagaland, both call centre workers, were beaten up and assaulted by a group of people Wednesday night in Sikanderpur area Of Gurgaon.

Aloto Chishi alias Sukoy and Awana alias James said the gang that attacked them shouted racial slurs at them.