Thursday, November 10, 2011

Nov 10, 2011: Myanmar women stalked, assaulted in Delhi

, TNN | Nov 10, 2011, 02.03AM IST
NEW DELHI: Three women from Myanmarwere assaulted by their neighbours in west Delhi in the continuing discriminatory attacks against people from the Northeast and southeast Asia in the capital of the world's largest democracy.

Even their male friends, who tried to intervene, were not spared. The victims allege they had been stalked and teased by the local goons for several weeks before being assaulted. But the women mustered enough courage to nab one of the accused even as the other three fled.

The incident happened in the weekend at Vikaspuri, where hundreds of refugees from Myanmar lead a ghetto-like existence after fleeing the crackdown by the junta back home at Yangon. The women were attacked when one of them was waiting outside her rented accommodation to receive two female friends with a male companion. Two of the accused have been arrested.

"We arrested two of them, including the kingpin Bhupendra. A case of eve-teasing and causing hurt has been lodged against the duo. We have identified the third accused and hope to arrest him soon,'' said V Renganathan, additional CP (west).

Sources in the Vikaspuri police station said the women had earlier complained about harassment by the local residents and the matter was resolved after police intervention. "The accused said they had only asked the women to vacate their house. But the victims allege they had been stalked for over a week,'' said a senior investigating officer.

Talking to TOI, Pyinmya Than, a Myanmarese refugee, said, "We are a target of harassment. We are still viewed as foreigners despite living in the city for decasdes. We have never broken the law or done anything to hurt sentiments of residents to deserve such treatment,'' he said.

The 7000-odd refugees who have fled Myanmar over the past 22 years and are now residing in small rented accommodations in Vikaspuri , Dwarka and Janakpuri.

They believe geo-political compulsions and the compelling need to checkmate China will not allow India to oppose the military junta in Myanmar.

The low point, refugees say, came when India welcomed Myanmar's reclusive military leader Than Shwe for a state visit in July this year.

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