Political parties and leaders across Tripura have strongly condemned the alleged racial harassment of a tribal youth from the state by Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen, demanding his arrest and prosecution after a video purportedly showing him making derogatory remarks went viral on social media on Tuesday, 21 October 2026. The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the Northeast, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], the Indian National Congress (Congress), and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) all calling for immediate legal action.

The Viral Video and Shokeen's Response

A purported video showing Shokeen allegedly making derogatory remarks against the youth — including calling him 'chinky', 'China president', and 'Michael Jackson' — spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing condemnation from political leaders, activists, and citizens alike. Following the backlash, Shokeen issued an apology in a Facebook post, claiming the video was scripted and that the individual featured in it was known to him, having previously worked at a friend's cafe in Ahmedabad. He described the exchange as a humorous video in which both parties were joking and maintained that he had no intention of insulting anyone. Critics, however, dismissed the explanation as inadequate.

TMP Founder Demands Arrest, FIR Filed

Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, founder of the TMP and an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura, urged youth organisations to file cases against Shokeen under relevant laws and demanded that the Tripura Police dispatch a team to Delhi to arrest him. In a Facebook post, Debbarma said, 'Today is a sad day that we, as Indians, have to see such things,' alleging that Shokeen had mocked the people of Tripura and distorted the state's historic name. 'I demand that proper action must be taken. YTF, TSF and TISF should immediately file a case and a police team should be sent to arrest this person,' he said. Acting on this call, the Youth Tripura Federation (YTF) — the youth wing of TMP — on Wednesday lodged a formal complaint at the NCC Police Station in Agartala against Shokeen, accusing him of cyberbullying, racial harassment, hate speech, and defamation of the indigenous people of Tripura.

Opposition Joins the Chorus

Jitendra Chaudhury, Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Assembly, CPI(M) state secretary, politburo member, and former minister, demanded an immediate and unconditional apology from Shokeen — both to the victim and to the broader Tiprasa community and the Northeast. In a Facebook post, Chaudhury said, 'It is no fun and games. You have publicly insulted and humiliated a youth of this country, which you also belong to, and by extension, shown utter contempt for an entire community and this Northeast region.' He further warned: 'Your words and actions will have serious consequences and are unpardonable.' Chaudhury also urged the Delhi Police to take immediate, strict, and exemplary action, stating: 'Arrest him. Prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. Make an example so loud and so clear that no one ever dares to insult Tripura and the Tiprasa ever again.'

Congress Flags Pattern of Racial Abuse Against Northeast

Senior Congress Member of Legislative Assembly and former minister Birajit Sinha — also a former Tripura Congress president — condemned the alleged harassment and described the content creator's behaviour as 'extremely disturbing,' accusing Shokeen of normalising racial profiling and sexual harassment of people from the Northeast on social media. Sinha invoked the name of Anjel Chakma from Tripura as a past victim of racial violence, noting that such incidents have recurred with alarming frequency. He urged Chief Minister Manik Saha and the state police to pursue the matter through legal channels and demanded the harshest punishment for the accused.

Broader Context: Racial Abuse of Northeast Indians

This incident is the latest in a long-documented pattern of racial discrimination faced by people from India's Northeast in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Human rights organisations and civil society groups have repeatedly flagged the use of slurs such as 'chinky' — a term whose casual usage persists online despite being legally actionable. Notably, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and provisions of the Indian Penal Code covering hate speech and defamation have been invoked in similar past cases. The political unanimity in Tripura — cutting across ruling and opposition lines — reflects the depth of sentiment on this issue. How swiftly the Delhi Police respond will be closely watched across the Northeast.