Patna: A woman from Arunachal Pradesh has alleged she was subjected to racial abuse and denied access to a washroom at a hospital in Patna, in an incident that has sparked outrage after a video circulated widely on social media.
The woman, part of a dance troupe visiting the city for a performance, said she and her colleagues were stopped by a hospital attendant on April 2 and asked to produce identification before being allowed to use a public washroom. In the video, the attendant is heard using slurs such as “Chinki”, “Momo” and “Cheeni” – terms widely condemned as racist when directed at people from India’s north-east.
According to the footage, the attendant, dressed in a beige uniform, blocks the group’s entry and questions their nationality, demanding proof of Indian citizenship. When challenged, she appears to laugh and continues the verbal abuse. One member of the troupe, who recorded the incident, can be heard saying their voice trembling that such experiences were making them feel unsafe while travelling for work.
The video has prompted widespread condemnation online, with many users describing the incident as discriminatory and humiliating. Several pointed out the contributions of people from the north-east to national life, questioning why they continue to face prejudice in other parts of the country.
The episode has also drawn the attention of authorities beyond Bihar. Police in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have reportedly contacted their counterparts in Bihar, seeking action over the incident. Calls for an investigation have intensified, though no formal first information report had been registered at the time of writing.
The case has once again highlighted concerns about racial discrimination faced by people from India’s north-east, particularly when travelling outside the region.
