Manipur,IMPHAL, August 22: State Works Minister and special emissary of the state Chief Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh today met the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka R Ashok to take stock of the situation in Bangalore with regard to the exodus of Manipuri students and professionals from the city.
Karnataka Dy CM R Ashok also holds charge of the Home Affairs of the state.
On his arrival at Bangalore Minister Ratankumar took briefing from DIG Clay Khongsai and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests V Ramakanta, IFS who is acting as the State Liaison Officer at Bangalore.
Thereafter, he met the Karnataka Home Minister along with the two state officials who assured him of the security measures taken up by Karnataka following the threats and intimidation and the resultant exodus of Manipuris from Bangalore.
Home Minister R Ashok informed him of the elaborate arrangements including night patrolling by various security agencies to ensure the safety and security of Manipuris and the Northeast people in the city.
Works Minister Ratankumar later toured the city incognito without security escort to directly asses the situation.
He invited Home Minister R Ashok to come to Manipur personally and assure the Manipuri students and professionals of the measures that has been taken up to ensure their safety and security.
Minister Ashok readily accepted the invitation and said that he will visit not only Manipur but the other NE states as well, Dr Ratankumar said while talking to IFP.
Meanwhile, four persons have been arrested by the cyber crime branch of city police in connection with inflammatory SMS circulated in Pune to allegedly foment violence against people from the northeastern states.
The SMS had allegedly incited the recent violent attacks on the north eastern students and workers that led to an exodus of the affected people to their home states, police said.
A case has been filed under section 153 (a) of IPC for creating enmity between two groups on grounds of religion and also section 66 of Information Technology Act, police said.
According to Deputy commissioner of Police (cyber cell) Sanjay Shinde, the four suspects, arrested on Tuesday night, were well versed with computer technology.
Police said they were also investigating the circulation of doctored MMS about violence in Myanmar and Assam and those behind it.
Meanwhile, the rush of northeasterners to their native states showed signs of ebbing, with confidence building measures taken up at various levels through involvement of administrative machinery and public organisations.
A number of people’s representatives from the northeast have been meeting the affected population in Pune to reassure them and appealing them to stay back, which has shown a steady improvement in the situation over the last week.
