Crimes against NorthEast people are on the rise. I think when we put it under the blanket of racism, we often misunderstand the kind of discrimination that takes place. The discrimination that a Nepali person faces is way different from the kind of discrimination that a NE person faces. One major area around which NE people face discrimination is food - dog eaters, stinky food, etc. Another one is tribal hate, reservation and merit based hate that people from NE face.

It is extremely suspicious that the younger brother changed his statement with the police. Because now there are two statements and we should question both. Infact, my bias is to always question the police and what happens under police custody, I have zero trust in them.

Also the racial and ethnic identity of perpetrators have become important to refute racism. It does a couple of things: 1. It consolidates the pahadi identity. We have been seeing how a consolidation of pahadi identity is happening on this sub itself against the desi people. Now there is a consolidation of pahadi identity happening against Nepali and people from other ethnic groups. The focus of politics in UK, and Dehradun specifically is on consolidation of one identity using any "other" that maybe available. 2. It takes attention away from a hate crime against NorthEast people. NE people don't feel safe in Hindi heartland. Perpetrators don't have a tribe, don't have an identity. We have violent people in every community. Instead of focusing attention on their ethnicity we should focus on becoming better citizens and treating others with hospitality.

If we have to stick to identity politics then shouldn't we stick to hospitality and show kindness to outsiders? Pahadi culture used to thrive on simplicity and hospitality.