Guwahati to Bangalore trains mostly empty
Source: The Sangai Express
Delhi/Imphal, August 23 2012:
Despite reports of special trains coming from Guwahati to Bangalore for the people who recently fled the city, it appears that coming back to the metro cities will take some more time.
CNN-IBN correspondent reported that most of the trains that arrived today and yesterday were mostly empty with only a few passengers.
Karnataka DGP L Pachuau informed The Sangai Express over phone that there are 3 trains between Guwahati and Bangalore.
Even if they are on their journey back to Bangalore, it would be too early to expect them to have arrived he said and added "It takes a minimum of 48 hours to reach Bangalore" .
In his response to the reports of special train arrangement, the police chief stated he would need to check out with the Ministry concerned, the Union and State Governments.
However according to DIG Clay Khongsai who has been putting up at Bangalore some people who had fled from the city had returned and resumed their works.
"There are reports that many who had fled have come back but it is still not clear how many people from the North East have returned to the city", Clay Khongsai said from Bangalore.
There was no report of any untoward incident in the last couple of days, the DIG claimed and added that some North East people have returned and rejoined their jobs.
Another source informed that Manipur Government officials who are camping at Guwahati may return to Imphal tomorrow.
Gogoi appeals to media : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today appealed to the media to help the Government to restore peace in violenceaffected areas and in rehabilitating displaced people.
"The media can play a very positive role in the prevailing situation and I appeal to all mediapersons to disseminate news based on reliable sources," Gogoi said at a meeting with editors of newspapers convened by him here.
Apprising editors about the slew of government measures to provide relief to refugees, the chief minister said only genuine Indian citizens would be rehabilitated.
He said efforts have been directed towards allaying apprehensions of the people by involving local leaders from both communities and different organisations.
"We have to remove the fear psychosis so that they return home.
Instilling a sense of security is a must," he said.
The chief minister said the government was taking steps to ensure decongestion of relief camps and proper sanitation and hygiene.
Referring to the exodus of people of NE region from southern states, the chief minister stressed on creating a congenial atmosphere so that students and workers went back at the earliest.
"Our government is in close touch with the institutions in which they were previously employed and they agreed to take them back," he added.