A tragic murder in Meghalaya has thrown open the floodgates of misinformation, racism, and lazy stereotyping. Newsrooms are buzzing, social media is ablaze, and suddenly everyone is an expert on “how unsafe” the Northeast is – as if an entire region’s identity can be flattened into one crime story.

Let’s be clear: A murder deserves justice, not generalization. But what we are witnessing isn’t about justice. It’s a textbook example of how India continues to alienate, stereotype, and “other” the Northeast – not just in crime reportage, but in everyday thought and action.

And all this while we proudly shout “Unity in Diversity”? Let’s not kid ourselves. That slogan is starting to feel like a cruel joke.

Is the Northeast Unsafe? The Numbers Say Otherwise.

Before we let WhatsApp forwards and primetime theatrics shape our perceptions, let’s look at the data:

According to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau), states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana top the charts for crimes against women, children, and tourists.

Goa, a tourism poster child, has seen multiple high-profile murders and assaults involving foreign tourists.

Meanwhile, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Meghalaya consistently report among the lowest crime rates in the country – especially in crimes against outsiders.

So the real question is: Why is a murder in Meghalaya seen as a reflection of the entire region, while rapes in Delhi or murders in Goa are seen as individual crimes?

That is not concern. That’s racism wrapped in the language of safety.

A History of Hospitality, Not Hostility

The Northeast is not a danger zone. It’s one of the most tourist-friendly and peace-loving regions in the country.

In places like Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Mizoram, tourists often speak of how welcomed they feel – not just with smiles and hospitality, but with a culture that still values trust. Unmanned roadside shops operate on honesty boxes. People leave their homes open. You’ll struggle to find this kind of simple human dignity in most Indian metros.

So where exactly is this narrative of danger coming from?

The Real Problem: Prejudice, Not the Hills. Let’s call it what it is – deep-seated, normalized racism.

People from the Northeast are mocked for their facial features, called “chinki”, asked “Are you from China?” in their own country, denied housing, and profiled by police – especially in cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai. They are treated as outsiders in the very nation that celebrates “diversity” in Republic Day parades.

Rest of India loves to appropriate Northeastern culture for festivals and fashion, but fails to stand up when the region is maligned or its people are attacked. That isn’t unity. That’s exploitation.

Matriarchal Societies vs Misogynistic Hypocrisy

Most Indians only know the word matriarchal from school textbooks. But in Khasi, Garo, and Mizo societies, it’s not just theory – it’s reality. Women inherit property, children take the mother’s surname, and social status often depends on maternal lineage.

Compare this to regions of India where: Daughters are denied inheritance. Dowry deaths still make headlines. Female foeticide is an epidemic. Women are told to cover up instead of walking free.

So again – who is “progressive,” and who is not?

The Media’s Role: Selling Stereotypes, Not Truth

Let’s not ignore the media’s role in fueling this prejudice. For decades, the Northeast was ignored. Now, when something sensational happens, it’s suddenly all over your screens – complete with tribal tropes, half-baked narratives, and dramatic voiceovers.

Why? Because it’s “exotic.” Because it’s “different.” Because it sells.

This murder, for many in the media, wasn’t about justice. It was about TRPs. It had all the drama – love, romance, marriage, love triangle, mystery, conspiracy – and it distracted from India-Pakistan tensions, tariff news, Trump, all party delegates and what not. That’s not journalism. That’s performance.

A Murder, Not a Mandate for Hatred

Let’s not minimize the crime. A man lost his life, allegedly planned by his wife. His family deserves truth and justice. But that does not justify vilifying an entire region when none involved in this crime are from Meghalaya. As we don’t label Delhi unsafe every time a woman is assaulted, or all of Goa dangerous when a foreigner is murdered or Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh.

When a crime occurs in the hills, it doesn’t become the identity of the Northeast. But when racism, profiling, and stereotyping continue unchallenged in the rest of India, that becomes the nation’s shame.

So Here’s the Truth:

The Northeast is not unsafe. Your biases are. “Unity in Diversity” means nothing if it doesn’t apply to the Northeast. You cannot cherry-pick culture and ignore the people. Justice means more than a trial – it means treating people with dignity, not suspicion.

Final Words

So before you jump to conclusions, post another ignorant tweet, or forward that stereotype-ridden message – pause.

Ask yourself: Am I reacting to a crime or reinforcing a prejudice? Because the real cracks aren’t in Nagaland, Mizoram, or Meghalaya.

They’re in the mirror. And the mirror never lies.