Karnataka Deputy CM appeals Northeasterners to return

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok on Sunday appealed to students and workers from the Northeast, who had left Bangalore recently in the wake of "wrong" SMS messages on Assam violence, to return to the state and resume their work without fear.

"The government of Karnataka has taken up full security measures to protect the people from the Northeast in the wake of wrong messages transmitted through SMS following recent Assam violence," Ashok, who is on a goodwill mission to Assam and Manipur, told reporters here.

Accompanied by Director General of Police of that state and some senior officials, he said 22 persons had been arrested and 17 cases registered in connection with the sending of the SMSs in the state.

Ashok, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, said a large number of security personnel had been deployed in the state to prevent any untoward incident and protect those from the Northeastern region.

He also met some parents of the students who had fled Karnataka.

He held a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam earlier.