You are safe here, assures Shettar

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Thursday morning invited more than 1,000 people of North-Eastern states studying or working in Bangalore to his home office “Krishna” and assured them that they were safe in the State and nobody could harm them.

The government also announced two 24/7 helpline numbers, special police patrolling in areas with concentration of people of North -Eastern origin and protection of their properties. 

Shettar and his deputy R Ashoka, who holds the Home portfolio, also held a high-level meeting with top police officials and representatives of various North-Eastern associations.

The government’s move comes a day after more than 6,800 people from North-Eastern region embarked on train journeys to their home states following rumours of an impending attack on them to avenge the ethnic violence in Assam.

“There is nothing to worry. The attack threats are just rumours being spread by unscrupulous elements. There is no need to rush back to your home towns. We ensure your safety here, nobody can touch you”, Shettar told his invitees at “Krishna.”

 Ashoka announced the two helpline number - 080-22250999 and 22942222 - would function round the clock. “If there is any problem, you can call these numbers. The police will reach your place in five to ten minutes and take immediate action,” Ashoka said.

The Bangalore City police will take up special patrolling in Neelasandra, Koramangala, Ejipura and Challagatta, all areas which have a large population of people of North-Eastern origin. 

Later addressing a press conference, Shettar said there was no way the government could prevent those who had already made their mind to leave Bangalore.

“It would have created another situation,” he said. At one point, Shettar said there had been some stray incidents against the community but the police could not act as there had not been any complaints. 

Asked to elaborate on these “stray incidents”, Ashoka intervened to say that it was a “sensitive issue” and details could not be divulged as the matter concerned the entire country.

Shettar said he had briefed the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday night about the measures taken by the State government to protect the interests of the people from the north-east. 

Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley and also the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki called Shettar on Thursday morning to inquire about the welfare of the people for north-eastern states in Bangalore.