As Bengalureans and government struggled hard to instill a sense of confidence among the North-Easterners, the city witnessed seven incidents of threats and attacks against them on Friday.
At Neelasandra, two miscreants attacked three North-Easterners and chased them till their home.
The victims – Ajai Chettri (28), his brother Kumar Chettri (27), their friends Rizing Gurung (23) and Prakash Subba (26) – were attacked near their home on Neelasandra 4th cross. The victims complained that Ajai Chettri, Rizing Gurung and Prakash Subba stepped out to get some vegetables around 1 pm. They had gone hardly 50 metres from their house when two miscreants standing by the road kicked Ajai on the chest without any provocation.
The duo shouted, “they are killing people, kill them, kill them.” The three started running towards home, but were chased by the attackers. Hearing the commotion, Kumar Chettri came out and tried to intervene. But one of the miscreants picked up a spade lying near a construction site and took a swipe at Kumar’s head. He missed the head, but hit his knee. They threatened the North-Easterners that they would be killed if they did not leave the city immediately.
A scared Kumar’s wife, Sunila Chettri, started calling the police, who were technically just 200 metres away. Despite repeated attempts, no one answered the call. The North-Eastern family was determined to go back home. The attackers are residents of the area, but were not acquainted with them, the complainants said.
In Shanti Nagar, Manipuris – Lia Liang (25), Robert (25) and Ousong Valte (19) – were attacked by workers at a retail outlet where they made purchases. One of the victims sustained serious injuries, while the police arrested: Abrar Mohammad, Salman, Vijany, Anthony and Mubarak.
The North-Easterners were stopped by Abrar as they came out of the shop. He asked them whether they were from the North-East, rushed inside the shop, got some more workers and attacked them.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) T. Sunil Kumar said, “We have seized their mobile phones and are going through their messages.”
On Friday, seven police complaints were registered in the city. Five complaints had been filed on Thursday.
‘Can’t leave everything we’ve worked for’
Many have left, some are waiting to leave and others are hoping the storm will pass, seeing no reason why they should go, abandoning everything they have worked for over the years.
“I am not running away. I have been living in Bengaluru for 11 years and have realised my dream here. I have contributed to the city’s economy in my small way. I’m not leaving the city unless I want to. This (the unrest and panic) is a phase and will pass,” says Shantanu Deb from Assam, who is a team leader in a reputed MNC.
Rosemary (name changed) feels Bengaluru will recover its “original peaceful nature” soon and has decided to stay back, albeit in hiding. Staying at a Tamil friend’s house, she is avoiding stepping out for work, shopping or partying. Most of her NE friends have left and are ‘concerned’ for her.
Pritam Das from Assam is scared and wants to head home but has not been able to for financial reasons. Das arrived in Bengaluru with a lot of dreams two months ago. He is not sure whether to leave the city as he owes money back home. “If I go home, I will have to pay back the village moneylender and I don't have the money. But I am risking my life if I stay back. ,” he says.
Jyotish Gogoi, a techie from Assam, feels there is no need to run away. “I would say don’t believe in rumours and if someone threatens you, report it, or raise it with the north east society or student groups. The police and the government cannot take action if you do not report. This is a question of our nationalism, and so I don't think we should be afraid and run away,” he adds.
Families feel safe, won’t hit panic button
While thousands of people from the North-East are fleeing the city, some families who have been living here for more than a decade, feel the city is safe and are in no rush to pack their bags and leave.
Kaushik Baruah, a techie, who arrived in Bengaluru from Assam over a decade ago, blames stray incidents of NE people being threatened on petty criminals who thrive on creating disharmony everywhere.
“People are forgetting how the riots actually started. Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were attacked near the border in lower Assam and coincidentally most of them happened to be Muslims. This issue took on a different hue and resulted in communal violence,” he regrets, adding that the mass exodus of the NE people is only feeding the panic. “I have been staying here for over a decade now and live with my parents, sister and wife in JP Nagar.It is foolish for our people to run merely because of rumours.
“There is absolutely no need to panic. I and my family have not thought about going back,” he says
Mr Omprakash P, a Manipuri working with an MNC and settled in Bengaluru since 1997, agrees.
“Bengaluru has become my second home. I live in Koramangala with my family and my daughter is studying in class X at a private school. If some people suddenly come up to us and ask us to go back to our states why should we panic and take a hasty decision?” he wonders, reasoning that it's more sensible not to panic.
Muslim youth raise funds for Assamese
While on the one hand there are rumours about Assamese being given time till Eid to leave the city, on the other, a group of Muslim youth, acting under the banner of the Basavanagudi Youth Trust, has started an Assam Relief Fund at a mosque near South End Circle to raise money for victims of the recent riots in Assam by the festival. The fund is also meant to help people affected by floods and vandalism.
“Over the past three days we have been collecting utensils, used and new clothes, and other material from people who have come forward to donate. We will turn all this into cash and go to Assam and donate the money towards providing basic necessities like food and clothing for the victims of the recent riots. We hope to collect nearly Rs 7.5 lakh," said Mr. Saif Pathan, trust president.
"We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone. Our main intention is to bring a smile to their faces this festival, so that they can celebrate Eid with dignity. We plan to reach out and help all the victims irrespective of their caste and religion," Pathan added.
The trust , established in 2009, works for the welfare of the poor, giving priority to education, health and hygiene.
“We had set up a similar relief fund for victims of floods in Bijapur in the past. We conduct free medical camps and also help the poor go in for dialysis if they need to at various reputed hospitals in the city,” Mr Pathan says.