A 19-year-old youth from Tripura, who was allegedly subjected to racial abuse in a viral video, on Thursday said he had pardoned Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen after the latter tendered an unconditional apology.
Meanwhile, Shokeen was arrested in New Delhi on Thursday evening for allegedly subjecting the Tripura youth to racial abuse and humiliation, an official said.
"The video, which went viral on social media, was actually shot around a month ago, maybe out of fun in Ahmedabad. I did not know someone was filming me. I came to know only when the video was uploaded on social media a few days ago, and I was upset," the teenager, a housekeeping staff at a restaurant in the Gujarat city, told PTI over the phone.
"The influencer has already sought an unconditional apology for his act, and I have pardoned him," he said.
Youth says he does not want legal complications
A video purportedly showing Shokeen making derogatory remarks against the Tripura youth went viral on social media, triggering widespread condemnation across the Northeast.
"I did not want the influencer to get arrested for filming the video and uploading it on social media. In fact, I don't want to get entangled in legal complications. I want nothing," he said when asked about Shokeen's arrest.
The teen, who hails from the Anandabazar area of North Tripura, said he feared trouble if the controversy escalated and led to stringent police action.
He said that he earns Rs 10,000 a month, the sole source of income for his family of four back home.
"I studied at St Paul's School in Agartala till Class 9 and had to discontinue my studies to earn money to feed my family. I joined the restaurant as a housekeeping staff three-and-a-half months ago, with a monthly salary of Rs 10,000. I will be in trouble in future," he said.
Leaders condemn alleged racial abuse
Leaders across party lines have condemned the alleged incident and demanded action.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on X said Shokeen would face action and police in Delhi and Tripura would teach him a "hard lesson".
"This evil man will be punished. There was a delay in lodging the official complaint, but Delhi Police and Tripura Police will teach him a hard lesson," the minister said.
Earlier in the day, Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma urged police to bring Shokeen to the state for a fair investigation into the matter.
Tripura Police team to take custody of Shokeen
Police sources said a Tripura Police team is expected to land in Delhi later in the night and will first visit Sadar Bazar police station, where it will take custody of Shokeen from Delhi Police.
Police will then produce Shokeen before a Delhi court to seek transit remand.
The Tripura Students Forum Delhi (TSFD), in a complaint on Wednesday addressed to the Joint Commissioner of Police (SPUNER), sought an urgent and impartial investigation into the video, alleging it showed a person from Tripura being subjected to sexual assault, harassment and humiliating treatment by a social media content creator.
Tripura CM Manik Saha has also directed the state's director general of police to coordinate with the Delhi Police over the matter.