No more special trains from south, pleads Gogoi

The Assam government has requested the railways not to run anymore special trains to the state to ferry panic-stricken Northeast people from southern states in view of assurance of security given by the concerned state governments to the people from the region living in those states.

Another special train arrived in Guwahati on Monday from Bangaluru carrying more Northeast people who have fled their place of work and study in the southern state because of the 'threat' doing round out there.

Many of those alighted from the special train, however, said they were willing to go back once the things improved.

Mawinu, hailing from Manipur, was working at a private company in Bangaluru, came in the special train but with an intention to go back. Similarly, some others like Karunakanta Lahan (Sivasagar), Bipul Hazarika (Dibrugarh), Sanjib Gogoi (Marigaon), Dipak Hazarika (Marigaon) and Putul Saikia (Marigaon), who have come back in the same train, said that they would also go back at the earliest as they haven't come back lock, stock and barrel.

"I have left behind all my belongings with my friends in Bangalore. I will go back once everything comes back to normal," Mawinu said.

In view of improving security situation for NE people in southern states, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has requested the railways not to provide any more special trains for such mass evacuation of panic-gripped people.

Gogoi said most of those who have rushed back home in a hurry were now willing go back especially after they came to know that their jobs were still intact and there would be no salary cut for their absence under the special circumstances.

The four senior cabinet ministers from Assam who were deputed to Bangalore and Chennai to take stock of the situation and ensure security for people from the state living out there in coordination with local governments have also sent across messages that there was nothing to be worried about for NE people in those states anymore.

Gogoi has instructed the legislators of ruling Congress to fan out to different parts of the state to meet people who have come back home out of panic leaving their jobs and study behind, and persuade them to go back as soon as possible.