Fearing attacks, 5000 people from northeast flee Bangalore

Author / Source : Independent Online/times of india

BANGALORE: People from the northeast are leaving Bangalore in hordes following wild rumours that they would be targeted even as Karnataka's top cop has sought to allay their fears by promising them full protection.

Hundreds of people from the region are headed home if one goes by the number of tickets sold by the railways.Railway authorities confirm they have sold nearly 5,000 tickets to people bound for Guwahati and beyond.

We are overbooked.We have arranged a 20-compartment special train to Guwahati, N Ramesh,senior deputy commercial manager (railways ),Bangalore division,said.Given the rush for tick ets,we may have to arrange more trains, Ramesh said.

IGP Lalrokhuma Pachau attributed the apprehensions to rumours and said no incident of intimidation of northeastern people has come to the notice of police.

Commissioner BG Jyothi Prakash Mirji said the cops are ready to go to the door steps of northeastern stu dents if there is any instance of them being threatened.

The panic reaction comes in the wake of rumours being spread through SMSs,chain mails and social networking sites that people from the northeast would be attacked in Bangalore.Intelligence sou rces said at least 4,000 people flocked to the Bangalore City railway station on Wednes day evening to board the two trains to Guwahati.

Source: theindependentbd.com

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Enclave people now free from captive life: Hasina

Dahagram: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said people of Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves have now got freedom from captive life with the 24-hour access to the Tin Bigha Corridor connecting the two enclaves with the mainland Bangladesh.

“You are now free. You won’t need to lead a captive life any longer,” she told the local people at a function at Dahagram Bilateral High School ground after inaugurating the electric transmission line connecting the two enclaves.

Mentioning her talks with the Indian Prime Minister in New Delhi in 2009, Hasina said she had then pressed for opening the Tin Bigha Corridor for 24 hours to enable free movement of the enclave people.

“During his visit to Dhaka on September 6, the Indian Prime Minister approved it,” she said.

Hasina, who earlier inaugurated a 10-bed hospital at Dahagram Union Health Complex, said the enclave people will get medical treatment from the hospital.

She went round different wards of the hospital and talked to patients.

The Prime Minister also promised to establish a college in Dahagram enclave.

Earlier, Hasina arrived here this (Wednesday) morning amid huge enthusiasm and festivity among the enclave people.

A special Air Force plane, carrying the Prime Minister, landed at Syedpur airport in Nilphamari at 10:20 am.

From Syedpur, Hasina traveled to Dahagram union health complex by an army helicopter. She was received by local MPs and Awami League leaders.

Later, Sheikh Hasina attended an opinion-exchange meeting with the local people.

Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque and PM’s advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi were present.

This was the Prime Minister’s first visit to the enclaves after the signing of a deal with India for round-the-clock access to Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves through the Tin Bigha Corridor.

The deal was signed during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka on September 6.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Tin Bigha Corridor and address a public rally at the Patgram Government College in the afternoon.

Source: theindependentbd.com

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