Title - Gogoi asks NE people to remain where they are

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday appealed the people from the Northeast region not to pay attention to 'rumours' and 'stay where they are' in the country.Gogoi made the comments after a rumour that people from Northeast region in Karnataka could be attacked sparked an exodus."There have been no attacks on people from the North East (NE)," Gogoi said while addressing a press conference on Thursday."People from North East should stay where they are," he said.Gogoi urged people from the North East region to not to 'panic'.The Karnataka government and the Centre have also assured that all people and students from the Northeast region are safe in the state.Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said in New Delhi on Thursday that he spoke to the Karnataka government and was assured that there was no incident of attack on Northeast people."We are taking all steps and if anyone spreads rumour there would be strong action taken," he said.According to reports, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Shinde also called Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar and asked him to ensure the safety of the Northeast students in the state after the Assam violence between the tribal Bodos and Muslim settlers sparked fears of a backlash on NE people spread across the nation.In the special trains that left for Assam on Aug 15 from Bangalore there was a mad rush of NE students.

However, Karnataka Home Minister R Ashoka urged the NE students to not leave and assured them of all safety. He himself visited the railway station and urged the NE passengers to not leave just because of rumors of possible attacks.

Bangalore, which is a hub of IT companies and academic institutions, is a place full of NE students and youngsters.

Meanwhile, Union home secretary R K Singh also dispelled the rumors of attack on NE people.

"They were just rumours. Some people are spreading rumours. There has been no incident," said Singh.

At least 77 people were killed in the Assam violence since July and countless were rendered homeless and sheltered in relief camps.