Delhi content creator arrested over viral video of alleged racial abuse of Tripura youth
A Delhi-based content creator has been arrested in connection with a viral video that allegedly shows a youth from Tripura being subjected to racial abuse and humiliation, an official said.
The arrest follows coordinated action by Delhi Police and Tripura Police. The Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit joined the investigation after the Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER) sought technical assistance. A senior IFSO official said the unit would support the probe with technical inputs and other requirements.
Agartala Police registered a case on Wednesday and were expected to travel to Delhi as part of the investigation, the official added. SPUNER had written to IFSO after the video drew widespread condemnation. Before the arrest, police personnel had visited the identified content creator and efforts were on to trace him, a SPUNER official said.
The case has drawn attention from senior political leaders. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a post on X that the accused would be punished. He added that there had been a delay in lodging the official complaint, but the Delhi Police and Tripura Police would take action. He also said that people who tolerate such behaviour are responsible for the spread of hatred. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha directed the State Director General of Police to coordinate with Delhi Police.
The Tripura Students Forum Delhi (TSFD), in a complaint to the Joint Commissioner of Police, SPUNER, sought an urgent and impartial investigation. The forum alleged that the video showed a person from Tripura being subjected to sexual assault, harassment and humiliating treatment by a social media content creator.
The complaint identified the Instagram account @amirshoksen as allegedly linked to the incident. It sought verification of the identity of the person operating the account and the role of others who may have participated in or recorded the alleged incident. The forum also alleged that the video contained racially derogatory expressions directed at the individual and a demeaning reference to Tripura, causing anguish among members of the State’s community.
TSFD urged the police to preserve electronic evidence, including the original recording, metadata, account details and upload history. It also called for measures to prevent further harassment or intimidation of the person concerned.
The video sparked widespread condemnation on social media and renewed attention to concerns about discrimination faced by people from the North East. Police are examining the matter with the IFSO unit.
The allegations are yet to be established through investigation. Under Indian law, an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court.
