Title - First wave of northeasterns return back to Bangalore

BANGALORE: Amidst the fog on Tuesday morning, 150 police personals stationed themselves inside and on the periphery of Majestic Railway station, preparing to receive the first special train from Guwahati - which was to bring back around 600 passengers, most of whom had fled the city when the rumors of prejudice reached against Northeastern people its peak on August.The 2509 UP, Guwahati Bangalore arrived on platform number three at 4.15 am, though it was scheduled to arrive 10 hours earlier. The platform was soon flooded by more than 400 people, most of whom looked visibly pleased to be back in the city.Around 100 people got down at KR Puram, another 100 at Cantonment station and many more at stations in southern parts of the city, according to the railway police."I went back home to prepare for my exams and also to stay away from the tensions that drove thousands from the city," said Mrinal Shrestha, a 23-year-old final year B Com student who aspires to be a chartered accountant."Now the situation is back to normal, I decided to come back. There is nothing much to do at home anyways," added Mrinal, who hails from Darjeeling.Many, who left everything, and fled back home, when the rumors escalated, are pleased to be back to the city."There is simply no work at home. We went back to Assam a month back, but to be very frank, we were hoping for the situation to cool down sooner, as we were looking to come back and join our day jobs. If the situation didn't improve, we would have left for Delhi or Mumbai, but then again, it would not be the same as living in Bangalore as we are very familiar with the city," said 32-year-old semi-skilled labour Haikon Borah, who along with 10 others from his town works at a factory in Kengeri.

Borah who hails from Guwahati added that he was relieved to be back to the city.

"It's like coming back home. I have nearly exhausted all my savings but now that I am back to the city I hope to make the most of it," he added.

The recent visit by R Ashok to Northeastern states, to ensure their citizens to come back to the city and work without fear, seems to have infused new enthusiasm among many northeasterners to come to the city in the search for a new future.

"My elder brother has been working in the city for the past five years. He works in the security services and earns up to Rs 8000 a month which is unimaginable back at home," said Indrajit S (22), a resident of Assam's Kamrup district.

"He fled the city when northeasterners were threatened but since we have all the assurances from the authorities we decided to return back. I have come to the city with huge dreams, of making a lot of money. I also plan to join the security services following the footsteps of my brother," he said.

While the northeasterners de-boarding the train looked happy to be in the city, Railway Police DSP Meer Arif Ali was the happiest as the returning back of the first wave of northeasterners to the city happened peacefully and incident free.

"We were prepared for action, so we deployed around 150 men and 12 officers to the station. I am happy that everything went on smoothly," he said.

Meanwhile, the auto drivers and taxi drivers looked to make a kill as the passengers left the station looking for a ride back home. While the cabs charged anywhere between Rs 350 (Brigade Road) to Rs 1200 (JP Nagar), the autos made a kill too. Most auto drivers quoted figures that look ridiculous even during the wee hours of the morning. From double meter to triple meter to Rs 50 extra on double meter, many passengers were seen waiting outside the station limit for the daybreak, which they thought would work on their favour for better deal to return back home.

"My train ticket from New Jalpaiguri to Bangalore, the distance being more than 2000 km, cost me Rs 1200. The taxis are charging the same amount to take me to my home in the city which is hardly 10 km. This is ridiculous," said Rana S, who stays near IIM, in Bilekahalli.