Jesuit college shelters northeast people

August 18, 2012: A Jesuit college in Bangalore is sheltering people from northeastern India in the wake of rumors that Muslims would attack them in retaliation against Assam violence. St Joseph's Arts and Science College has vacated some classrooms to accommodate the panic-stricken people from northeast. The college also has arranged extra security for their safety.

Rumors spread after clashes between Bodos and Muslim settlers in Assam had claimed at least 79 lives and driven some 400,000 people to 235 relief camps. College principal Fr Daniel Fernandes told the people that the rumors were false and they should not leave the city. The priest told them to be safe inside the college and added that the college has given “safest place” for girls.

The college also organized a meeting on Thursday to assess the situation in the wake of reports that thousands of people from northeastern India have fled the southern Indian city fearing attacks on them.
Some 600 people, mostly from the region, attended the meeting where leaders from six Muslim organizations assured them no Muslim would attack them during Ramadan. The Muslims groups also said they have deputed thousands of their cadres all over the city to prevent any attack on northeast people.

Protection of northeast people was the main theme of sermon during Friday prayers in all mosques in the city. Meanwhile, an organization helping northeast people living in Indian cities has accused Hindu radicals for spreading rumors. “We suspect the hand of invisible communal forces of Hindutva,” the North East Support Centre and Helpline said in a statement August 17.
The helpline, which helps people from the northeastern Indian fight racial and gender-based violence, said social experts have blamed groups such as Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena (Bhagat Singh revolutionary force) for spreading the rumors.
The Sena members, it added, used text messages and the social media networking site facebook to warn that Muslims were planning a massive attack on the northeast people after the Eid celebrations and that they should leave places such as Bangalore.
Eid falls on August 20 this year. Jesuit social activist Fr Walter Fernandes, who is part of a team assessing the situation in Bangalore, has pleaded the northeast people in the city not to panic.
The priest, who has worked in northeastern India for years, said when a civil society person in Bangalore contacted a number provided in the SMSes and facebook for assistance someone claiming to be the head of the Sena said that he did not have any details but had only heard of attacks.
Inquiries also found as false another rumor seven people from northeast were killed at two places on the outskirts of Bangalore, the priest said.
“You supporters of Bangladeshis, if you do in Delhi what you are doing in other places we will break both your hands and legs,” the message on the social media site said.