Influencer held after viral video sparks outrage
Delhi Police on Thursday arrested social media content creator Amir Shokeen in connection with an alleged incident of racial abuse and public humiliation of a youth from Tripura, officials said. The action followed registration of a case after the police took suo motu cognisance of a purported video of the episode and launched an investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Niharika Bhatt told reporters the accused has a prior record and was described as a "bad character" of the Sadar Bazar area, having been involved in multiple brawling cases earlier, according to official statements. The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police is examining the video, with assistance from the Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER), which earlier flagged the matter.
Inter-state coordination and Tripura police response
The episode prompted swift action from authorities in Tripura. Tripura Director General of Police G S Rao confirmed that a first information report (FIR) had been filed after the video came to the state police's notice, and a special team was dispatched to Delhi to coordinate with the capital's police force, officials said.
Tripura organisations also moved promptly. The Tripura Students Forum Delhi (TSFD) lodged a written complaint on October 21 with the Joint Commissioner of Police, SPUNER, seeking an impartial inquiry. The complaint alleged the recording depicted the Tripura youth being subjected to sexual assault, harassment and humiliating treatment, and identified an Instagram account allegedly linked to the accused. The forum sought verification of the identities and roles of those involved, including any who may have recorded or participated in the incident.
Political reaction and public condemnation
The video drew condemnation across party lines. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju questioned the conduct and urged prompt punishment. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said the accused would face consequences and both Delhi and Tripura police would teach him a "hard lesson".
"This evil man will be punished. There was a delay in lodging the official complaint, but Delhi Police and Tripura Police will teach him a hard lesson," Rijiju wrote on X.
Leaders and student groups from the Northeast denounced the incident on social media, calling for impartial and expedited action against those responsible.
Arrest, location and prior cases
Police said Shokeen was traced through technical surveillance and arrested in the Karol Bagh area, where he was reportedly hiding at a relative's residence. Officers earlier visited his declared address but found him absent. Authorities noted that Shokeen has previous cases registered against him related to brawling and other offences.
Delhi Police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Indian Penal Code, citing offences that include provocation with intent to cause a riot, promoting enmity between groups, intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace, and statements conducing to public mischief. Earlier FIRs against him reportedly included sections for voluntarily causing hurt, causing hurt by dangerous weapons, intentional insult and criminal intimidation.
- Accused: Amir Shokeen
- Allegation: Racial abuse, public humiliation of a Tripura youth
- Principal investigating unit: IFSO (Delhi Police) with SPUNER coordination
| Charge type | Legal provision (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Provocation/Promoting enmity/Insult/public mischief | Sections 192, 196, 352, 353 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (as cited) |
| Earlier offences (reported) | Sections 323, 324, 504, 506 IPC (voluntarily causing hurt, causing hurt by dangerous weapons, intentional insult, criminal intimidation) |
Broader context and concerns for North-eastern residents
Incidents of alleged racial discrimination and harassment against persons from the Northeast have periodically surfaced in metropolitan centres, prompting demands for better protection and quicker legal recourse. Student bodies and community groups have repeatedly urged authorities to treat such cases seriously and to ensure victims receive protection and due process.
Authorities have said they are investigating the video and verifying identities of all persons involved, including those who may have recorded or shared the footage. The probe by specialised units aims to establish the sequence of events, the nature of alleged offences and whether other persons participated or abetted the act.
As the investigation proceeds, police have not released further details on the accused's custody status, the exact date and location of the alleged offence shown in the video, or statements from the alleged victim. Officials said additional information would be shared as the probe develops and charges are finalised.
