Don't panic, cops tell North-Eastern students

In the wake of unprecedented exodus of citizens of North-Eastern regions from Bangalore and other cities, the city police have assured of all security to the North-Eastern students in Mangalore and have asked them not to panic and leave the city.

Speaking on behalf of the City Police Commissionerate, Deputy Commissioner of Crime Dharmaiah asked the students not to pay heed to the false rumours of attack spread in the cities like Bangalore.

He was addressing the North-Eastern students community studying in St Aloysius College, at a confidence building meeting organised by St Aloysius College authorities in the College premises on Friday.

“We are all Indians and you (North-Eastern people) have as much right as we have to live in Mangalore. Roam freely, there is nothing to fear about. And inform the police if you receive any kind of threat messages or calls from unknown numbers,” said the DCP.

Kaini Cicilia from Nagaland who is a faculty in a nursing college in the city, said that there was no reason to fear as there was no valid reason for it. “I live in Ullal, which is a Muslim dominated area for last eight years and have never witnessed any problem so far. I feel secured here,” she said.

However, Maringeni Ariyan, a III BA student at St Aloysius College expressed the feeling of insecurity before the police. Some of my friends here are talking of leaving Mangalore and even the parents and relatives who reside in Manipur too have asked us to come home fearing the rumour, he said.

Sowdhallakhatar who is in-charge of the mosque located next to St Aloysius College, assured the students that no misdeeds would happen in the city. Islam speaks of good and does not support violence. Hence, the community would assure that there would not be any violence caused by Muslim community members in this region, he said.

College Principal Fr Swebert D’Silva, Police Inspector Vinay Gaonkar and others were present.