Manipur, IMPHAL, August 16: Even as the state Home Minister Gaikhangam appealed for calm among Manipuris staying outside the state, three motorcycle borne assailants made an attempt to kill a young Manipuri studying at Pune today morning.
According to reports received by IFP, the said incident happened around 9 am today near the Dr DY Patil Dental College located at Pimpree area of Pune.
The victim who escaped death by a hair breadth has been identified as one Rojina Chirom, daughter of Chirom Ranjit of Singjamei Chirom Leikai, Imphal.
She is studying in the 3rd year of Dental Surgeon course at the college.
According to Rojina, as she was crossing the road from her hostel to buy some materials for practical from a store selling medical instruments three assailants on a motorcycle swooped down on her.
The second pillion rider at the back with a broadsword made a swipe at her neck as they chased her but she escaped unhurt.
According to her, she cried for help and ran into a narrow alley and inside a house and locked herself as she found the residents in the garden outside.
She called up one of her college teachers who came to rescue her from the said house.
Following the incident, a meeting of the college was held.
According to reports reaching IFP, the Police Commissioner of Pune came to the college and after conducting an on the spot inspection detailed police personnel around the college campus.
As there was 4 days holiday, the college authorities announced that it will bear the costs of air tickets if any of the students want to go home while making exemptions for students coming from the northeast and that the police will provide security escort up to the airport, the reports added.
Further, the college authorities have called in students staying outside the campus in private boarding houses. A special leave of 15 days would be granted to NE students, it was announced.
Meanwhile, state Home minister Gaikhangam has assured the public that there are no unwanted incidents happening to northeasters at Bangalore and there is no cause for panic.
Briefing mediapersons in his office at Secretariat south block today, the minister said that it has come to the state government’s notice that there is a prevailing panic situation at Bangalore and many individuals especially students are leaving the city en masse for their respective states.
Mentioning such a kneejerk reaction as unfortunate, Gaikhangam said that there is no truth of northeastners being targeted in Karnataka. “False rumors are alarming the people outside, here the family members are concerned and becoming panicky. There are no unwanted incidents happening”, he said.
The minister elaborated that he had discussed the issue with DGP, Y Joykumar yesterday and intimated him to communicate with his Karnataka counterpart for factual information on the so called threats. It was responded that there is no violence perpetrated to individuals from the north east.
Further, Gaikhangam had also spoken to Karnataka home minister R Ashok over the phone today. It was assured by the Ashok that there is no cause for panic and his government is taking up adequate measures to safeguard the interest of the citizens.
“He has given cent percent assurance to me that there is no cause for concern, further the minister personally went to Bangalore Central Railway station to urge the students not to leave the city due to fictitious issues”, Gaikhangam said.
“Every possible options has been addressed, on behalf of the state government and my Karnataka counterpart, I appeal to the students, office goers at Bangalore and mainly to the parents and family members here that there is no need to worry and to go about their normal duties”, he said.
As a Bangalorean, I ask you brothers and sisters from the north east, please do not panic and flee.
Please stay, you will be safe.
Stay in close touch with the police and take precautions like always moving in groups, buy pepper spray etc.
You must be UNITED and make a stand.