Govt orders CBI probe into death of Nido Taniam

The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday ordered a CBI probe into the death of Nido Taniam, a youth from Arunachal Pradesh who was allegedly assaulted by a group of people in south Delhi a fortnight ago.

The decision came after the family of the youth, including his father Congress MLA Nido Pavitra, met Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

“The family wants the investigation to be conducted by the CBI. So we have decided to hand over the case to the CBI,” Shinde told reporters after the meeting.

Taniam (19), a first year BA student in a private university, had an altercation with shopkeepers at Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi on January 29 after they made fun of his hairstyle. He was found dead the next day after the group allegedly thrashed him. The police have invoked murder charges against the four men who were arrested.

Shinde also assured the family that justice will be done and the guilty punished.

“The home minister gave us a patient hearing. We also requested him to do the needful to ensure security of people from the North-East living in different parts of the country,” Pavitra said.

The youth’s family also met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, demanding speedy justice and strict punishment for the perpetrators. They met Gandhi at his Tughlak Road residence here and alleged police negligence in the case.

“We have apprised Rahulji about our feelings. First of all, we have requested him to punish the people who are involved in killing my son. Number one is Delhi Police and secondly those culprits,” Pavitra said.

Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh Takam Sanjoy, who accompanied Taniam’s parents, said that the family had requested the Congress vice-president to ensure that stringent punishment is meted out to the police personnel responsible for the youth’s death.