Exodus of northeast people from Bengaluru continues

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Fear-struck people from the northeast continued to flee the city for the second day on Thursday as the Karnataka government assured them safety and launched confidence building measures, including police patrolling in areas largely inhabited by them.

A day after 6,800 people from the northeast left the city by jam-packed trains, the main railway station here was chock-a-block with hundreds from the region eager to return to their homes, in the backdrop of rumours of an impending attack on them in the aftermath of the Assam violence.

"There is nothing to worry. The entire government is with you. We will protect the interests of the northeast people," Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told representatives of organisations of people from the region at his official residence.

Speaking to reporters after chairing a high-level meeting, Shettar admitted there have been some stray incidents (against members of the community) but the police could not act as there had not been any complaints.

Asked to elaborate on these ‘stray incidents’, Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashoka intervened to say that it's a ‘sensitive issue’, and could not be divulged as the matter concerns the entire country and also different states as he named Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Ashoka said 6,800 people from the northeast left Bangalore last night by special trains. In Delhi, the Centre said there was no threat to anyone from the region living anywhere in the country and warned of strict action against rumour mongers.

"If rumours are spread, strict action will be taken against those who indulge in such activities," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters. Extra trains to Assam have been pressed into service to help people who wanted to leave Karnataka, Shinde said, asserting that the situation in the state was peaceful.

On reports that people from the northeast were attacked in other parts of the country, Home Secretary R.K. Singh said in Delhi, "There is no threat to the people of the northeast in any part of the country."