Delhi cops tell students from Northeast how to behave

UNWANTED ADVICE: Northeastern students say the booklet, written by an IPS officer, is hypocrisy at its best.

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New Delhi: Malsom Zou, 24, belongs to Manipur. In the two years that he's spent in the Capital, Malsom has felt at home. But then, the Delhi Police is all set to make him feel alienated.

In a booklet titled Security Tips for North East Students, the Delhi Police shamelessly reinforces stereotypes.

While addressing girls from the Northeast, the booklet says revealing dresses should be avoided. It advises them to dress according to the sensibility of the local populace and that's not all.

The book also raises objections about their food - namely Akhuni and Bamboo shoots, which are Northeastern specialties.

Says President All India Tribal Students' Organisation, Kham Chin Pau Zou, "So far, no forces (not even the RSS) has said anything about the food habits and the way of life. Why should the police come up with such things? We are expecting the Ministry of Home Affairs to say something on this."

Zou says the booklet -- written by IPS officer Robin Hibu, who's himself from Northeast -- is hypocrisy at its best. And the advise hasn't really gone down well.

Northeastern students in Delhi say that the intentions of the booklet may have been good, but have gone completely haywire.

They feel that it's very unfortunate the police had to come up with something like the booklet and that they would like to invite the locals populace to eat Akhuni and Bamboo shoots and ask them how it tastes.

Sensing controversy, the Delhi Police has washed it's hands off Hibu's advisory.

Says Chief Spokesperson of the Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak, "It is Hibu's book and the Delhi Police can't do much about it."