Spooked NE students in Delhi stay off classes

The provocative SMSes that sparked off the exodus of thousands of northeastern people from Bangalore, Pune and other cities hit Delhi on Saturday, prompting the city police to appeal for calm and review the community’s security in the Capital.

The provocative SMSes that sparked off the exodus of thousands of northeastern people from Bangalore, Pune and other cities hit Delhi on Saturday, prompting the city police to appeal for calm and review the community’s security in the Capital.

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“Text messages about northeastern people being targeted in Delhi, particularly after Ramzan, are false and should not be believed,” said Robin Hibu, joint commissioner of police. “We are on high alert and have met people from the community living in Janakpuri, Mahipalpur, Munirka and Mukherjee Nagar over their security.”

To check rumour-mongering, the Centre had on Friday barred bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days. Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar too tweeted, urging people not to believe in rumours.

Several Delhi University (DU) students from the Northeast were reported to be skipping classes out of security concerns. “I will return to my hometown and come back once the situation calms down,” said one such student of Hans Raj College.

Usha Rao, proctor, DU, said security had been tightened across the campus and in the Rajiv Gandhi Hostel, which houses many northeastern students.
“We are meeting the students in colleges. For those staying in the hostel, we have stepped up security,” said Rajendra Prasad, principal, Ramjas College.