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AASU demands security for return of those fled S-India

August 19, 2012 18:10 IST

With over 7,000 panic-stricken Northeast-origin people arriving in Guwahati from Southern states through five special trains so far, the All Assam Students Union on Sunday called upon the state governments of the region and the government to persuade them to go back to their workplace and education institutions out there with assured of security for their safety.

"The problem will not get solved by students and other people from Assam and other northeastern states rushing back home leaving their study and jobs behind. They should be facilitated to go back to their study and work place by the concerned state governments and the Central government with proper security, "AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya said.

Regarding the Union ministry's allegation about involvement of Pakistan elements were behind the exodus of Northeast -- origin citizens from South Indian cities such as Bangaluru and Hyderabad, the AASU leader said, "It has vindicated our stand that Pakistan-backed fundamentalist elements are roaming around in the country after entering into Assam through the porous border with Bangladesh in the Northeast along with the illegal migrants."

He said, "The present situation in Assam as well as in the rest of the country is a fall out of the negligence of successive governments in Assam and New Delhi to implement the main clauses of Assam Accord that was signed in 1985 at the instance of Rajiv Gandhi when he was the prime minister. The accord promises for detection and deportation of illegal migrants from Bangladesh who came to Assam after March, 1971 and sealing of porous India-Bangladesh border in Assam."

The AASU leader demanded immediate effective steps from the government and thwe Assam government to seal the border with Bangladesh and stop infiltration from the neighbouring country.

The AASU, which is known as the spearhead of the sustained movement against the 'illegal migration' from Bangladesh , has been maintaining that the government was running a great risk by leaving the border with Bangladesh unsealed and largely unguarded as it had been used Pakistan-backed anti-India forces to push in their operatives to create disturbance in the country.

Meanwhile, Assam Public Works, a non-governmental organisation known for its firm stand against insurgency, on Sunday staged a protest demonstration against Pakistan near Guwahati railway station denouncing 'its role' in creating trouble in Assam and rest of the country.

K Anurag in Guwahati