Drying the tails

James Khangenbam *

Exodus of North East people continues from Karnataka

"We have open up 3 helplines and a helpline receives around 70 calls a day from students, guardians and working persons earlier now the callers are less. Most people from Manipur including students and professionals prefer to stay indoor unlike other days" says Potsangbam Omprakash President of Manipur Meitei Association Bangalore.

The helpline is unique in the sense that it provides correct information so far and the panic and inquisitive callers had released themselves from fears and anxiety as there has been no broad light incident of abuse to the North Easterners so far in Bangalore.

The incidents of abuse we came across happen in late night and in many cases the abuse of North Eastern people are done by youths who love to bully people out of fun. Cases like slapping from behind and fleeing from the scene is common. And records on broad day light assaults on North Easterners is nil so far putting the potential fear of riots in Karnataka to Zero except for some untoward bullies by mischievous youths who love to bully.

About a particular case of a group taking away mobile phone and asking as to why they do not return to their States. And whenever we track a case or get reports on untoward incidents we inform the Karnataka police and take their help in avoiding ugly scenes.

We do not have a registry of all Manipuri people who are staying in Karnataka so we do track the number of North East People who have left Karnataka from the railway department as an aftermath of the communal riots in Assam. 20 to 30 per cent of the north eastern people staying in Bangalore have shifted to their homes so far.

The incidents of abuse so far is harmless as no lethal weapon was involve in any of the abuse recorded by the police in Karnataka.

North Eastern people who were seen in Brigade Road and MG Road in normal days are not seen in and around and their liberty is in suspense till the day when the authority declares safe.

The epic tragedy fuelled by MMS and the picture on the Communal riot in Assam where both engaging communities suffered will come to an end and everyone is waiting for the day. Doing away the stereotype and tracking down anti-social elements has been the chapter the government of India and the civil society organisations have been pursuing since the outbreak of the unfortunate incidents.

Rumours on the matter are another challenging factor behind the fear and anxiety of the citizen in pulling down the situation to halt or the wait for green days.

The minority Bangladeshi Muslim Immigrant community in Manipur is safe and sound in Manipur so far.

Except for panic and fear among North Easterners, the possible security measures and precaution have been taken up and the aftermath of the communal riots will rest to its end in a span of time like every communal riot that have taken place so far in the Nation and elsewhere; but the wait for peace becomes everyone's prayer fold and reason as mob emotions do not sustain long.