India, Feb. 24 -- A chilling incident involving racial harassment and sexual assault against a doctor from Nagaland in Uttar Pradesh has once again reignited national concern over the safety of women from Northeast India living and working in other parts of the country.

More broadly, the case reflects a disturbing and well-documented pattern. Recent 2025 studies reveal that individuals from Northeast India particularly women continue to face intersecting forms of racism, stereotyping, exclusion, and exploitation in mainland cities. In practice, this discrimination manifests through verbal slurs, workplace bias, and sexual objectification.

Although isolated surveys suggest relatively safer environments in cities such as Bengaluru, in con...