Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister assures adequate security
Ashoka gives Bangalore a clean chit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 26 2012: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka who is also in charge of Home Department arrived here today and interacted with parents/guardians of Manipuri students who are studying in Bangalore.

Together with an assurance for adequate security, Ashoka appealed to all the students and professionals of the State who had fled Bangalore to come back.

The Deputy Chief Minister accompanied by Karnataka DGP Lalrokhoma Pachuau landed at Imphal at 11.50 am today.

Soon after arrival at Imphal, Ashoka called on Chief Minister O Ibobi and Home Minister Gaikhangam with whom he held separate meetings.

He also interacted with some guardians/parents of students who fled Bangalore recently in the presence of Home Minister Gaikhangam at the Chief Minister's Cabinet room.

Later talking to media persons at the Cabinet room, Deputy Chief Minister Ashoka claimed that no untoward incident has been reported from any part of Bangalore till date.

Chief Minister O Ibobi hands over a gift to R Ashoka

"There is no problem nor any sort of tense situation.

All were results of rumours", he said while appealing to all the Manipuri students and professionals who fled from Bangalore to come back to the city.

Claiming that Bangalore is one of the safest cities, R Ashoka who is on a goodwill mission to Assam and Manipur said that out of 3.5 lakh North East people staying in Karnataka, almost 2.5 lakh people are staying in Bangalore.

In the wake of the exodus of North East people from the city triggered by rumour, the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister convened a high level official meeting together with heads of educational institutions and representatives of small scale industries and discussed the security situation.

On being asked about his interaction with parents/guardians, Ashoka said that the parents seemed satisfied with what the Government of Karnataka has been doing.

One senior police officer has been appointed as nodal officer to monitor the problems and threats perceived by North East people in Bangalore.

Saying that there would be special train from Guwahati to Bangalore on September 1, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that 17 cases have been registered by Karnataka Police in connection with the rumours targeting North East people.

Moreover, five people who were involved in circulating rumours and SMSs have been pulled up.

Rumours, hate mails and SMSs circulated through social media networks are being investigated by cyber crime experts of the State, said R Ashok while claiming that his mission was a success.

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister also met the parents of late Richard Loitam at the Chief Minister's office.

Richard's parents submitted a memorandum to the visiting Deputy Chief Minister and pleaded to deliver justice regarding the controversial death of their son.