NE people start returning to other states: BJP

Northeast students and professionals, who had fled Maharashtra and Karnataka and other states, have begun returning to their respective workplace and institutions, a good will team of the Bharatiya Janata Party touring the NE region said on Monday.

"The reverse process has begun," Raj K Purohit, chief of the Mumbai unit of the party, told reporters here. "A special train has been arranged for September 01 from Guwahati to Bangalore specially to carry those who want to return to their respective places," he said.

Nalin Satyakam Kohli, member of the national executive committee of the BJP, said his party was reaching out to people of the region in an effort to build up confidence.

"We request students and professionals to return as action is being taken against the guilty," he said. The party had set up a helpline (9313292915) for assistance to the people of the region pursuing their studies or profession in other parts of the country.

Stating that malacious rumous were sent from Pakistan soil leading to the exodus of panic-stricken northeasterners from South Indian states, Purohit said his party would hold an interaction with the students from the region studying at Mumbai on September 2.

The BJP team also held discussions with Khasi Students Union, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, Civil Society Women's Organisations and the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front among other student unions and NGOs.