Jalandhar, February 1
Students and staff of Jalandhar’s Lovely Professional University were in shock as news of the death of BA honours student Nido Taniam after an altercation with some shopkeepers in Delhi spread.

The 20-year-old son of Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator Nido Pavitra was in Delhi to spend time with his relatives in Delhi when the incident took place. He was supposed to return to campus on Saturday.

LPU Director Corporate Relations Aman Mittal described Nido as a bright student who scored over 80 per cent in the first semester exam. “After the winter break, Nido got leave sanctioned till January 31. He was to join back today. We were shocked to hear of our student’s death,” he said. University Chancellor Ashok Mittal expressed his condolences with the family.

North-East students at LPU held meetings on the issue at the campus today and have reportedly formed an unofficial group , Lovely North-East Group. Chitradeep, a student from Manipur at LPU, said, “I have also been a victim of racial discrimination. Though I avoided responding to the remarks, I know it hurts and it is difficult to maintain one’s cool at times.”

Nido died on Thursday, a day after he was thrashed by some shopkeepers in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar market following an altercation allegedly triggered by their comments on his blonde hair.

“We are deeply anguished at the way our friend has been treated. We will meet the authorities on Monday to take up the matter of student safety and hold a candle-light march,” said Chitradeep.

As LPU mourned Nido, the focus was on student safety. The campus has nearly 1,800 students from the North-East and 1,500 foreign students, including 200 from Africa.

Nido is not the first LPU student to fall victim to racial discrimination. On April 26, 2011, a footballer from Mizoram died during a match on the campus after being hit by a Sudanese boy.

On April 21, 2012, African student Yannick was attacked and is still comatose. LPU students from Congo went on the rampage on Garha Road here last 16 after they got agitated over racial remarks.

University authorities said they have adopted measures to avert racial clashes. The campus has CCTV cameras in corridors, classes and grounds to keep a vigil and employs private security.

“We have a strong induction programme for new entrants to help them understand communities. We have also formed groups of 25 students , each having a student mentor and a faculty guide, for quick redressal of grievances ,” Mittal said.