NE people issue: Exodus stops in Karnataka; dwindles in Tamil Nadu

BANGALORE/CHENNAI: After four days of panic-driven exodus of Northeasterners, the situation eased today with police and railway officials saying it has stopped in Karnataka and reduced to a trickle in Tamil Nadu.

In contrast to the scenes of people of the Northeast fleeing over rumours of backlash over Assam violence, it was a normal situation in Bangalore which was turned into a virtual fortress with tight security in place.

Upto 30,000 people had fled the country's IT capital since late last week which abated yesterday after the government went overdrive to instil confidence in the NE people.

Over 18,000 police personnel, bolstered by Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police, kept a hawk-like vigil in the city with Ramzan also celebrated today.

"The situation is absolutely peaceful and normal ...People from the northeast are going about their chores without any disturbance and the exodus has completely stopped", Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Suneel Kumar told.

Bangalore Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji said they have held several peace committee meetings with community leaders and police intensified night patrolling.

Railways, which ran additional trains to Guwahati after the sudden rush of fleeing northeasterners, did not operate any special services for the second consecutive day.

"There are no trains to Guwahati today... passengers, if any from Bangalore, will be directed to board Yeshwanthpur-Howrah Express from Yeshwanthpur and will have to proceed to Guwahati from Howrah", ADGP Railways Bhaskar Rao said.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R Ashoka, announcing 24-hour duty for himself today, undertook rounds along with top police officials last night and visited places inhabited largely by Northeastpeople.

In Chennai, after four consecutive days, the number of NE people leaving the city by trains noticeably reduced.

"There were very few people from the Northeast today at Chennai Central station. It is far less compared to earlier and it has reduced from Tamil Nadu," a senior railway official said.