Delhi Police and Tripura Police probe Amir Shokeen over viral racial abuse video

Delhi Police and Tripura Police have launched coordinated legal proceedings against Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen after a viral video showed him subjecting a youth from Tripura to racial slurs and physical harassment.

The Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER) referred the incident to the Delhi Police Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) cyber unit for formal investigation. Police officers visited Shokeen's residence in Delhi, but senior officials confirmed he was absconding.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the video and pledged that law enforcement agencies would take firm action.

"This evil man will be punished," Rijiju stated, noting that Delhi Police and Tripura Police would ensure strict legal consequences. "People who tolerate such wicked behaviour in society are also responsible for the spread of hatred."

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha instructed the state's Director General of Police to coordinate directly with Delhi authorities. Tripura Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and dispatched an investigation team to Delhi to assist in locating and arresting the creator.

How authorities and civic groups responded

The video, which circulated widely on social media platforms, showed Shokeen asking the young man from Tripura's Gomati district whether he was the president of a foreign nation, referring to him as "Chinese", and mocking the state's name. The creator also made inappropriate physical gestures towards the youth while presenting the interaction as comedy.

The Tripura Students Forum Delhi lodged an official complaint with SPUNER on 21 October, requesting an urgent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, racial abuse, and humiliation. The forum urged officers to secure electronic evidence, including metadata, original recordings, and account history.

Opposition leaders in Tripura, including CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, also called for firm prosecution to establish a deterrent against racial harassment.

Following widespread condemnation, Shokeen published video apologies on social media claiming the interaction was scripted and filmed with an acquaintance. However, police investigations remain ongoing as authorities enforce zero tolerance against harassment targeting citizens from the North East.