Government Lacks Central Data on Hate Crimes Against Northeasterners

The Indian government has revealed that it does not maintain centralized data on hate crimes, including hate speech and discrimination against individuals from the Northeast. During a Lok Sabha session, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that the responsibility for policing lies with state governments. While the National Crime Records Bureau compiles crime statistics, specific data on hate incidents targeting Northeasterners is lacking. The government has implemented various measures to address these issues, including the establishment of dedicated units and helplines to support victims. A monitoring committee has also been set up to review racial discrimination cases. This situation raises concerns about the safety and treatment of Northeastern communities across India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 15:53 IST

No Centralized Data on Hate Crimes

New Delhi, Mar 24: The government has acknowledged that there is no centralized record of incidents involving hate speech, racial insults, harassment, or discrimination against individuals from the Northeast. This statement was made on Tuesday, emphasizing that the responsibility for policing and maintaining public order lies with state governments.

In response to a query from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi during a Lok Sabha session, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai clarified that state authorities are tasked with the prevention, detection, registration, and investigation of crimes, as well as the prosecution of offenders.

Rai noted, "'Police' and 'Public Order' are categorized as state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. It is the duty of state governments to manage crime-related activities through their law enforcement agencies."

He mentioned that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) gathers and publishes crime statistics from states and union territories in its annual "Crime in India" reports, which are available up to 2023.

However, the minister pointed out that there is no centralized data specifically tracking incidents of hate speech, racial slurs, or discrimination against individuals from Northeastern states.

Rai assured that current legal frameworks allow for action against hate speech, gestures, and racial acts, including those aimed at Northeasterners.

He also highlighted measures taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to tackle safety and discrimination issues, such as issuing advisories to states and union territories, appointing nodal officers to address grievances, and training law enforcement personnel.

Initiatives like the Special Police Unit for North East Region (SPUNER) within the Delhi Police, along with dedicated helplines and email addresses, have been established to assist in complaint registration and provide support to victims.

Additionally, Rai mentioned a three-member monitoring committee formed in response to a Supreme Court ruling, which regularly assesses issues of racial discrimination and grievance resolution for Northeastern individuals residing across the country.