Exodus of North Eastern students, Assam CM acts

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is in constant touch with his counterparts in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharasthra following reports of exodus of the state's students after being targeted in the wake of violence in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD).

"The Chief Minister is in constant touch with his counterparts who have assured him to provide security to the students from the state who are in the grip of fear psychosis", sources in the Chief Minister's office said.

Following the recent clash between tribal Bodos and minorities, there was backlash and public anger targeting students and working persons of Assam in those states.

"The Chief Minister has given strict instruction to the district authorities to maintain calm even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Union Home Minister Sushil Shinde have given separate assurances that security will be provided to affected people", sources said.

Meanwhile, a report from Kokrajhar said more than 400 students had fled from these states and returned to the district while 30 other Bodo students have come back to Chirang in the past few days.

AASU leader Birkumar Adhikary and All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) leader Jayanta Basumatary have expressed concern over the exodus of students and urged the government to provide them security in those states.