The ulemas (Muslim religious leaders) reportedly helped the police in containing the fear and mass exodus of the North-East people from Bengaluru, said a top government source.
“The bayan (talk by the ulema after the Friday prayers at the mosque during Ramzan, on how to conduct oneself in society on the tenets of Islam) by prominent ulemas in the City following the first exodus on August 15 helped the police in controlling the situation. The police chiefs had made concerted efforts to engage the religious leaders in preventing the situation from going out of hands. The speeches made by the ulemas during the Jamat-ul-wida (the last Friday of Ramzan, which is considered the most pious day in the holy month) in almost all mosques made a huge difference. They appealed to the community to come forward and instill confidence among the NE people in the city,” the source added.
On August 15, around 7,000 North-East people left the city for their home states by special trains organised by the Railways, following which Director General and Inspector General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachau and Police Commissioner Jyothiprakash Mirji sought the active support of the community and religious leaders to arrest the growing fear psychosis among the NE people in the state.