Centre warns of attacks on N-E people

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Union Home Ministry fears attacks on people from the North-East living in Bengaluru, Pune and Gurgaon following a "misinformation campaign" going on in social media on the lynching of a rape accused in Nagaland.

After an analysis of the situation, the ministry on Wednesday issued advisories to Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana governments to take immediate steps to ensure security of such people so that no violence takes place.

A senior official said the states have been asked to be on alert. The Centre also asked the states to deploy extra security forces in places where people from the North-East live and roam around.

"We suspect that the social media is being used by some anti-social elements to create tension and instigate people to attack people of the North-East in the three cities," the official said.

The advisory came after security establishment noticed a deliberate attempt in social media to spread misinformation about the lynching of the rape accused after dragging him out of a jail in Dimapur last week.

Tens of thousands of people from the North-East had to leave Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and other cities in August 2012 after rumours spread on social media about possible attacks on them following clashes between Bodo tribals and immigrant Muslims in Assam that year.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland government informed the Centre that Syed Sarif Khan, the accused, had claimed that he did not rape the girl but they had consensual sex twice.

Khan gave a statement to the police after his arrest on February 24 that he had paid Rs 5,000 to the rape victim after they had sex, the state government said in its report. The accused also told the police that she demanded more money but he refused and a case was filed by the victim.

The Nagaland government also said that investigation into the case was still going on and on the basis of medical examination and forensic evidence, the case could be taken forward. Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him about the situation in the state.

“We cannot comment on anything because investigation is still on. Neither we are saying it was a rape case nor we are saying it was consensual sex,” he said.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi told Deccan Herald that they have received the advisory from the Centre and that they will take all possible steps to ensure safety of citizens from North-East region living in the City. “Bengaluru is safe and secure for them and there is no need to panic.”

Dr Simanta Sharma, president, Assam Society of Bangalore, and advisor, North-East Welfare Association of Karnataka, said: “I have just heard of the directive from the Home Ministry. However I have not received any official or personal communication on the matter from any agency.”