Racial slur case: Tripura Police bring Ameer Shokeen to Agartala

Ameer Shokeen, the Delhi-based content creator accused of hurling racial slurs at a young man from Tripura in a viral social media video, was brought to Agartala on Tuesday by a special team of Tripura Police.

He landed at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport under tight security and is to be produced before a court, police said.

Transit remand from Delhi

West Tripura Additional Superintendent of Police Dhruv Nath told reporters that the case was registered at New Capital Complex (NCC) police station over the use of racial slurs against an indigenous youth from the state. He said the accused had been arrested and brought from Delhi on transit remand and would be produced in court.

A police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Samudra Debbarma had travelled to New Delhi to take custody of Shokeen and bring him to Tripura.

What the case is about

The case stems from a video that began circulating on social media on October 20. In it, Shokeen allegedly mocks a young man from Tripura, calling him "Chinese" and making derogatory remarks about his looks and identity.

The clip triggered outrage across the North East. Political leaders, student bodies and civil society groups demanded strict action, and the Tripura Students Forum-Delhi approached police seeking an impartial probe. Chief Minister Manik Saha directed senior officers to coordinate with Delhi Police.

Delhi Police arrested Shokeen on October 22, and a Delhi court later sent him to police custody. The Tripura case at NCC police station was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Next steps

With the accused now in Tripura, the case moves to a court in Agartala, where police are expected to seek further custody or file their findings. The allegations against him are yet to be tested in court.

The case has become a reference point in the wider debate on racism faced by people from the North East in Indian cities, and student groups in Delhi and Agartala have said they will follow the proceedings closely.

NEInsider will update this story after the court hearing.