NE states ask governments to ensure safety of their people

Imphal/Aizawl/Agartala - The northeastern states have urged the central government and various state governments to take all possible steps to ensure safety of people from the region living in various parts of the country.

The Manipur government will send separate teams of senior officials to Karnataka and Maharashtra to look into the exodus of people from these states fearing attacks on them in the wake of Assam violence.

"The decision to send the team to different states was taken during an urgent cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh late Friday," a government spokesperson told reporters in Imphal Saturday.

"The Manipur government took seriously the reported attacks on Manipuris in Karnataka and Maharashtra. It was in touch with the offices of the prime minister and the home minister and also the governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra to ensure safety of people from the northeast."

The spokesperson added that Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (range one) Clay Khongsai would go to Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka, Additional Home Secretary M. Yaiskul and Additional Director of Education (School) Ranjan Yumnam would visit Guwahati and Chandel district Superintendent of Police Elangbam Priyokumar would visit Pune to review the situation.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday and urged him to take all possible action to ensure protection of people from the northeast.

"Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla held telephonic talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and requested them to ensure safety of people from the region," a government release said Saturday.

"The Prime Minister has assured of their security," it added.

Thanhawla also wrote a letter to his Karnataka counterpart Jagadish Shettar requesting stringent action to prevent any attack on people from northeatern states.

Several NGOs have appealed to the central and state governments to immediately put a stop on rumours of attacks.

The Tripura government also took up the issue with the Karnataka government.

"The Karnataka chief secretary has assured of taking all necessary measures for safety and security of students and other people from the northeast," Tripura's Tribal Welfare Department Secretary L.H. Darlong said.

"Bangalore deputy commissioner of police has been made the nodal officer to deal with any threat to the people from the northeast," Darlong said.