South India — which has never seen non-locals fleeing the region for fear of their lives — continued to witness the unprecedented exodus of citizens from the Northeast on Thursday, with thousands from Chennai too rushing to the railway station to take the train home.
In Bangalore, where it all began, their flight continued unabated with 7,500 more people boarding four Guwahati-bound trains — three special trains apart from the regular Bangalore-Guwahati Express.
On Thursday evening, nearly 3,000 workers and students, mostly from Assam, were seen waiting at Chennai Central, eager to board the two Guwahati-bound trains that were scheduled for departure at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday. A number of them had arrived from Coimbatore and Madurai.
“Nothing has happened till now, but we are very sure something really bad is going to happen. Our Bangalore friends have said we have to leave before August 20,” said Bishnu, 21, who hails from Dibrugarh and works as a waiter in a restaurant in Chennai.
Chennai Commissioner of Police J.K. Tripathy told The Hindu that no complaint of violence against natives of the Northeast had been reported so far. “They don’t need to worry at all, they are safe. We will make sure there is no untoward situation,” Mr. Tripathy said.
But migrant workers from the Northeast appeared too panicky at the moment to pay heed to such assurances. “Incidents have already been reported from Hyderabad, Bangalore and from Kerala. I am very scared,” said Bishnu, who has been working in Chennai for the past three years. “It was never like this before. Everyone is extremely scared this time.”
“We are employed as security guards at the Siruseri IT Park,” said Bindeswar, who huddled with his colleagues at the Central station. “We spoke to our companies today but none of them agreed to take responsibility for our safety.” They heard rumours that four people had already been killed in Bangalore and said they did not wish to meet the same fate. “Our families back home are petrified. They want us back as soon as possible,” said Bindeswar.
Most people fleeing Chennai happen to hail from Assam; though smaller, separate groups from Manipur and Mizoram, were waiting to leave too. The sense of panic is evident in the student community as well, according to college heads. “This is mainly because their friends from Bangalore are sending them all sorts of messages and they are falling prey to rumours. We have assured them that they are safe here,” said a professor at Loyola College.
Keywords: North East issue, Assam ethnic violence, Kokrajhar riots, Bodo tribals, migrants issue, North Easterners exodus
The false report in a paper from Pakistan seems to have caused the
havoc. Has Government of India taken up the issue with the Government of
Pakistan. The communal politics being played in the country to catch
votes may have also caused the panic.
Complete lack of failure of the Center and State governments to prevent the second communal riots, since the birth of nation from Partition
After the recent violence in Assam it is now communal violence.
While the country is hard put to tackling various economic issues,
this is adding fuel to the fire. After mumbai pune incident of
violence against the people of northern states,it has spread allover
mainly due to rumours. this situation should not be allowed.The new
home minister with his vast experience in the home affairs should
tackle with all force at his command and bring the situation under
control.it is a good sign that all chief ministers are calling people
not to leave the respective states as their states are safe. Exodus
will jeopardize the balance between the states in production and
unemployment adding to their existing owes. The home ministry should
alert the intelligence and avert such situation before hand. we have
confidence in Government
I feel secure in Bangalore even though the rumour going round the city. I am not moving why should i move? as an indian why should we fear of such thing. I stop some few people who requested me to book flight or train tickets to be more mature and given assurance of safety. Yes few incident was happening in bangalore city i am not denying the fact some miscreat beaten up two guys from Manipur when they reture late at night from work so they scare of such thing and immediately vacant their house and came to some safety place. but till now no serious cases wasn't heard.Lets stay safe moreover let's believe government of Karnataka.
This is stupid. If you are not safe in Chennai and Bangalore, you will
never be safe in any part of India. They believe rumors but they wont
believe what is shown in the media i.e media denies any killing of north
eastern people in Bangalore.
This is just terrible. It is unbelievable the amount of damage rumor-
mongers can do. Everyone knows nothing bad has happened so far, and
still everyone is terrified! How sad!
This is absolutely sad. Exodus of north-east people should not happen.
We have celebrated 67th Independence day and still we are fighting on
racial and regional basis. Sad news indeed!
Railways should take all safety measures to ensure those who are fleeing
for fear of lives have safe journey throughout
There is nothing to panic. Don't heed to rumours. Govt. is making all
efforts for your safety but your cooperation is required. Govt. should
find the source of remours and take strict measures to ensure they are
safe and efforts should be made by all peace loving people to maintain
law and order and measures to restore confidence in the minds of young
north-east citizens residing in South through media and direct
interactions with the leaders of north-east people. It should be a
joint effort to maintain communal harmomy. All peace loving people,
NGOs should come forward and restore peace. “They don’t need to worry
at all, they are safe.
Poor guys..These ppl should not be going back out of fear. Govt
should reach out to them. Once they go back ...and when ppl over
there hear about this.. then there might be backlash for some other
community in North East. Also India has lot of emotional ppl ... in some place this could result in communal clash. It was mentioned in a news paper..In Bangalore RSS, hindu organisations, muslim organisations, Kannada organisations have
requested these ppl to stay back. In Chennai also some kind of confidence building measures should be taken. The incidents that happened in Mumbai and Pune might have brought this kind of fear to NE ppl.
People fleeing from their own land fearing lives?! This is pathetic. They are not aliens for god's sake. This is their country too.. We must feel ashamed we cannot instill safety in the minds of our very own people.
The government must take immediate stringent action not just against attackers, but also against people who are a medium of rumors.
what really started all this?
Only assurance by words will not be enough.Police has failed on many occasion to maintain law and order in the past latest in Mumbai.Our intelligence agency has to be more active to nub in the bud before such things take place.Those who are guilty should be tried in fast track courts and punished immediately not like Godhra or 26/11.
God knows where India is heading.Is for this India our freedom fighters laid there life down??????????
The going things are ridiculus,these are our peoples, our brothers n sisters dnt do this The Attackers must be punished.
What a shame. Still we are in 1947 mentality. This is a continuing human tragedy in our motherland.
Apart from the government, some kind of assurances from community
leaders will be useful
Why such unprecedented exodus is happening in India? Strict action must
be taken whosoever perpetrator for such rumour. What will be the feeling
of NE people when they have to leave their own country. The North east
India is already disturb area if youth of this area meted such
treatment in core area of the country, where they should go and
antisocial and unscrupulous element of that area take advantage of such
situation which lead to more disturbance. Please avoid the exodus and
secure the life of our own brothers
Is this what we witness after 66 years of independance?
South was and is safe. Please stay and we assure no miscreant gonna knock
your door. People in south are soft and educated and more on that there
has been no reported case of any ATTACK on our Assamese friends
They are our people. Our brothers and sisters. They have every right to live here. I urge the chief Ministers of the respective states to urgently step in and do the necessary to instill confidence in their minds. We have to act fast and we should reach out to them in show of solidarity so that they realize that they have our love and affection and not a single drop of hatred.
It seems very bad for the people of seven sisters. I believe that
rumor does not come unless there is something truth, generally.
However if Government of State is taking responsibility for complete
safety of the people of NE & also there is no as such violence has
been reported till now, people of NE should not panic with the rumors
and stay as there is nothing gonna happen until is government is with
you people. I seriously condemned all racism and discrimination with
these people (if applicable), this kind of instances will destruct the
balance of society. As per my opinion this will lead to regionalism
and vitiate the basic human rights fundamental rights of the people to
move and reside to any place in the territory of India which is
guaranteed by the Article 19 of the Constitution. If these people
moved to their native places, I am thinking of adverse effect of
people of South India who resides in NE. Government should act
together to control the exodus effectively.
I feel sad looking at the situation in which the people, in such a great number, are this much scared to live in Metros of there own country.
People should stop making rumours and scaring others.
Just hope that everything comes back to normal again soon.
It is a sad reflection on Bangalore and Chennai that people from the
north-east do not feel safe here and are fleeing. It is surprising
that the police in these two cities seem to have woken up only after
the exodus began. How come the intelligence wing did not pick up any
clues till the press reported the exodus?
Stray reports that I see in the newspapers in Bangalore lend credence
to the theory that local police stations advised north-easterners to
stay indoors or return home - as usual, to avoid having to do their
duty. This should come as no surprise as we all know how government
agencies function in our country. After having allowed things to come
to such a pass, what is the use of lamely assuring them that they are
safe? The police should have taken timely action to reassure them.
There is no strong actions from state or central governments or strong
tones . It is obvious the prime minister with his feeble voice is losing
his grips . He is the person who is supposed to stand in front and say
in strong tones and warn the miscreants . Unfortunately ,We lack a
strong leader like Mrs Indira Gandhi .Remember , when South india was
tense with Anti hindi agitations , it was Mrs Indira Gandhi who came all
the way from Delhi to the hot beds of Madras to douse the anti Hindi
agitations after which it subsided then . But now alas what to say .
Whether it is rumour or real, the authorities have allowed the things to go this far and they have to be squarely blamed. If the local governments cannot ensure safety of indians in India what is the fate of foreigners? These governments should be dismissed immediately by the President as they are unfit to rule and safety of Indians is at stake in their hands. This cannot be allowed and should be stopped now.
CHENNAI is surely different from other cosmopolitan cities. People from other states, specially north eastern states need not be afraid here. In fact chennai could be rated as one of the safest cosmopolitan in our sub-continent.
Roumers always come around. But our country is in such a stage that people from other states tend to believe in rumors and flee rather than having belief on the local govt.
What is happening in India?These incidents more less,i am afraid ,may promote relionalism at its extreme.There is a situaton of tension all over India.If such situation continues unbated many innocent poeple will bear the brunt of it .Besides,it will sow the seeds of xenophobia.The ongoing exodus may cause intense worry to the thousands of south Indian poeple who work in the North East.It is goevernment onus to stop such rumours through effective campaining and put in practical measures to ensure safety of the poeple.
Most importantly, the ethnic clashes in Assam is to be settled first on a war foot.Poeple from the North East have been famous for their docile nature and excellent hospitality.But what if things like this happen?
Finally, I feel the govenrment , by all means , try to stop such trends ,taking stringest measures so as to ease the tension and feeling insecurity prevailing in our country at the earliest before any untoward incidents occur.
Thank you.
What sad independence day for these people from other state. What have we got after 65 years of freedom today is violence and hatred with in our own home land,why is this situation, the Elected govt did not do their part, that is the reason, Education , job , cost of living, fighting for space, Housing,nothing is with in the reaching of common man,today (AAm ADMI is like a shrunkMango)so it is not banglore,every state will face these type of situation if our Elected Netas do not take care of our basic requirements.There are smouldering in all the states if thegovt does not act on a warfooting style to curb and assure peace the country no doubt will head for a major civil war.the need of the hour is the action by the ministers and their representatives. Kindly take care of your citizens,If you can it is possible only by the govt Machinery.if the smoulderings and smoke is not extinguished,itwill be Nuclear Tsunamiwhich can never be controlled or extinguished. God save our country
This is a secular India, yet a few useless youths of the minority community can cause so much pain to others. Send those youths to the neighboring country. All peace loving citizens - Muslims, Hindus alike should see our fellow N Easterners as Indians first.
It is sad that migrants from NE States have taken a hasty action by rushing back to their homes, with out any reason. The present Government has taken immediate steps to assure the safety of migrants from NE States. The DG&IG of Police Lalrokhuma Pachuau is from Mizoram.This fear factor is spreading to other places like Chennai as well.
whatever is going on Banglore and now in Chennai, it's unfortunate. It is really hurt me as Citizen of this Nation . Something really need to checkout gross root reasons. And we have to look both aspects socially and politically. And gultiy must be punished.
Oh!God.They are safe.
Again self-perpetuating false news being spread by the NE people among themselves is leading to this fear psychosis being created. No one has been killed in Bangalore (at least we have not seen in any news report about these killings). Looks like all of them are taking unofficial holiday to their respective places. It is strange they are heading towards the place where actual violence is taking place and they find it more safer there!!
it is a real shame that such thing is happening in our country
This is ridiculous.. they came here for livelihood and education and now
they are fleeing away for their lives. Central Govt should take action
upon this and if needed they must take strict decisions to assure
security for our own People.
Unless people are guaranteed and guarded against violence and communal-linguistic fights with strong legislative laws and on the spot actions, any grapewine will create a huge storm anyway, anyhow.
The reason for this fear psychosis and most unwanted exodus is the failure of democratic establishment in India. My earnest appeal to NE brothern is not to be panicky but take on things with vigor you have.
Its a big shame on us :(.
Why run ? These people should call for their parents to come and be with them.The Southern states are safe and people will take care of them.
Perhaps it all started with the intelligence warning of suspected terrorist attacks in Karnataka few days back.
High time the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of Southern States go on AIR and Doordarshan and assure total safety to all affected people and appeal to be calm and continue to stay back whereever they are.
Tamilnadu is the best state for any INDIAN,to live, pursue an
occupation, and acquire immovable properties . The law and order
situation is pretty good . Our brothers and sisters from other states
need not panic at baseless rumours but to identify the source of rumours
and report to the law enforcing authorities and pursue their lawful
occupations peacefully.
This is something that has been planned well to create panic and chaos; a part of terror tactics. Will the Home Ministry and NSA do
something?
Indians from eastern part of India fleeing Bangaluru and Chennai situated in southern part of India. This reminds me of reading about second world war Jews fleeing Germany. Some may argue the comparison is wrong since German Jews were fleeing their country and in this case Indians are fleeing only to a different part of India. The fact that it takes place in the world's largest democracy speaks volumes about the state of politics in India. Its a shame that none of the politicians in Karnataka and Tamilnadu opening their mouths to denounce this action. I am ashamed to call myself an Indian.
Some evil vested interest are out there to create disharmony om the southern part of India.
State as well as central government should be serious enough to protect and assure
fundamental rights of livelihood of any indian citizens.
The Government has to stop this exodus immediately.If necessary
ministers/offices from Assam may come down here and address the students
along with the local officers/ministers.Similarly a team of
officers/ministers from southern states may visit important centers in
Assam and address the parents and allay their fears
What is happening to India? I am in tears...these are all our brothers
and sisters.
First, we are Indians. If we start to pay this type of foul game amongst ourself, it is not going to help the country. Sad to see this is happening still.
People from Northeast are very safe in Tamilnadu. They should not leave
the State in panic. Tamils are warm, hospitable and helpful. Tamilnadu
Chief Minister Jayalalitha is very efficient and in case any antisocial
elements try to create trouble, she will put down with an iron hand.
This is very serious. If the government cannot assure the safety and confidence of these people and let them go back to North-east, it will be the beginning of the balkanization of India. A civil war is not far off.
That this is happening at the same time of news of Hindu exodus from Pakistan raises some serious questions. Could this panic be set off by Pakistani ISI agent in India? They could have been the those who attacked these people in Hyderabad etc. This could have been done to divert world attention from the Hindu exodus and human rights violations in Pakistan.
The coincidence of the timing is too suspicious.
Indians must confront their own deeply ingrained racist attitudes. It rings hollow to defend racism in the name of preserving culture. Stories that we read in newspapers speak volumes about the violent streak of bigotry that is found in in all segments of Indian society. This is a demon must be confronted, however painful it might be to do so having for so long blamed the West for racism, if India is not to disintegrate.
Citizens of India must be able to live and work anywhere in the country without fear.
This is such an unfortunate situation and reflects a herd mentality. Come on people,
we are a LOT better than this.
This is a true national calamity which should looked into with the highest priority. Head of the states and Central Government please do something to stop this.
This is so sad, this is happening in South India where we are more
tolerant. This is happening to our countrymen in our country. I do NOT
expect the politicians to do anything, but at least we should unite. If
this goes on, this country will be divided beyond repair, i.e. our
nation will break.
India as a nation of diverse culture and tradition which represents different states and must not compromise with the communal and ethnic violence spread there. The situation requires exemplary action towards rumor-mongers.
How unfortunate that this has to happen on Independence day! Use facebook and twitter to enhance harmony! May be the news media can depict pictures of harmony rather than mass exodus.
One small correction, DGP Lalrokhuma Pachuau is from Mizoram, not from Manipur as you mentioned.Thanks.
These are our people. Strict action must be taken against attackers to teach them a lesson!
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