Two men from Nagaland were attacked by a Hindu mob for selling “non-vegetarian and northeastern food” in Ahmedabad on 4 June.
A first information report (FIR) of the incident was lodged in the Sola police station against the assailant mob. The police said that one of the accused has been identified as Pratik Dhobi, and has been arrested. Two more accused have been identified as Mahavir and Rokdo.
The victims were identified as Rovimezo Kehie and Mapuyanger Jamir, The Print reported. They worked at a shop and eatery called “One Stop Northeast” in Chanakyapuri.
“One Stop Northeast” sells exotic vegetables and non-vegetarian items like chicken, pork, Korean noodles and varieties of north-eastern rice.
Kehie sustained injuries on his head while Jamir too was injured in the attack. Both men were rushed to Sola Civil Hospital after the attack.
“There were about ten men who attacked us. They kept saying how we could sell non-vegetarian and northeastern food in a place like Gujarat which is dominated by Hindus,” Kehie said to Times of India.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the attack was disturbing. “We should respect each other’s cultural identity and food choices,” he wrote in a tweet. “Let us live up to our ideal of unity in diversity.”
