Rumours of being targeted over the Assam riots lead to mass exodus of Assamese from the city.
Fear psychosis over being targeted on communal lines in the wake of the Assam riots has led to a massive exodus of close over 15,000 people from Assam working in Bangalore. The Bangalore City Railway Station saw thousands crowding the platforms to catch the Guwahati Express, scheduled to depart at 11.30 pm.
The chaos at the station was such that railway officials were caught off guard, and the four policemen posted at the station premises were clueless about what the rush was all about. Many with cellphones were contacting their dear ones back home about their condition.
DNA learnt from the railway booking counters that at least 10,000 tickets had been sold to these people who were planning to board Wednesday night’s Guwahati Express, scheduled for departure at 11.30 pm, which is why the railway officials, at the eleventh hour, added two special Guwahati-bound trains in the night to clear the desperate rush for Guwahati.
According Raghu Raman, Bangalore City Railway Station manager, one special train at 11pm, and the other at 11.30 pm, were added, forcing the scheduled twice-a-week Guwahati Express (Wednesdays and Fridays) to be delayed till midnight.
These desperate measures were taken by the railway officials fearing that the huge crowds at the railway platforms could affect departures of other trains leaving from Bangalore Station.
Such was the desperation among these people from Assam that AK Nath, who hails from Assam’s Nagaon district and working as a security guard in Garudachar Palya in Bangalore, said, “We do not want seats; only a little space. We just want to reach Guwahati as early as possible.” It takes 54 hours, 20 minutes for the train to reach Guwahati from Bangalore.
An unconfirmed rumour—circulated within the Assamese community in Bangalore—threatening to target them from next week onwards to avenge the Assam riots is said to be the culprit behind the massive exodus.
Police commissioner BG Jyothi Prakash Mirji said the rumours had been spread among the targeted community via social networking websites, SMSes and emails.
Thousands of people from Assam, especially the youth working as security guards, started gathering on Platform 4 of City Railway Station since late Wednesday morning to ensure getting tickets on Guwahati Express.
Trains may be cancelled today
Divisional railway manager Anil Kumar Agarwal said some passenger trains might have to be cancelled if the exodus continued on Thursday. When home minister R Ashoka asked him how he would manage the situation if it continued, Agarwal replied that he would talk to the railway board to cancel some other passenger trains to accommodate additional special trains to Guwahati. However, he did not specify which trains may be cancelled
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