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Local youth assault Chin asylum seeker in New Delhi
February 11, 2008: (Khonumthung News) Local youth on February 9 at night attacked and injured an asylum seeker from Chin state, Burma in New Delhi, capital of India.
The incident occurred in Jeevan Park, Uttamnagar, west New Delhi.
A local youth called Ashu on Saturday at around 11 pm reportedly snatched Maung Kung (28), a Chin from Burma, from Pankha Road in Jeevan Park and forcibly took him to a dark corner.
After a few minutes another local youth was said to have joined Ashu and together they assaulted Maung Kung for almost an hour. They also demanded Rs. 10,000 from him.
"When I did not give them anything they took my temporary UN card and Rs. 860 from my pocket," Maung Kung with his lower lip swollen said.
Fortunately, some Chin Refugee Committee and Chin community leaders rushed to the place where the incident took place and rescued Maung Kung after another Chin refugee who was passing by saw the incident and informed them.
The CRC and community leaders tried to stop the local youth who claimed that Maung Kung owed them money. Maung Kung denied ever having met them.
"How could I owe them money as I don't even know who they are," Maung Kung said.
CRC leaders lodged a complaint at the Uttam Nagar police station as the local youth kept on trying to attack Maung Kung.
The police arrived at the spot and took Maung Kung to a nearby hospital as his mouth and nose were bleeding.
The police arrested Ashu and his friend but later released them as they reportedly confessed to the police that they mistook Maung Kung for another person, according to CRC.
The police suggested that the victim register a case at the police station.
"The police told us that only after the case has been registered, can they book the accused," Mr. Jeremiah, president of the CRC said.
The victim, Maung Kung, is still not clear under which section, he should register a complaint.
"It was a sort of attempt to murder him," Mr. Jeremiah was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile a leader from the Chin community also accused Ashu and his friend of kidnapping him.
Maung Kung is from Hakha, the capital of Chin state in Burma. He fled to India in 2005.
He applied for refugee status to the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees office in New Delhi. His application has been pending with the UNHCR office.