Why are people feeling unsafe, asks Karnataka Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen

BANGALORE: The exodus of people from northeastern states fleeing Karnataka figured in the high court here on Thursday with a division bench led by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen expressing concern over the sudden development .

“Why is everybody feeling unsafe in the state, particularly those from outside? Why are they fleeing ,’’ the bench asked advocate general S Vijay Shankar during the hearing of a public interest litigation relating to a July 28 incident at a home stay in Mangalore. The advocate general replied that Wednesday’s panic was the result of rumours and that there was no threat to anyone in the city. He said the rumours sprung from the Bodo issue in Assam and had nothing do with local threats.

“No one told the authorities that there was a threat. The state government has taken the issue seriously and the home minister went to the spot to monitor the situation. The northeast people have been assured (of their safety). The state has formed a special task force to protect the interest of the minority people who hail from the NE,’’ he said.