GUWAHATI, Aug 19 � The �Friends and members of the North-east community in Bangalore�, in a statement, has urged the media in the North-east to exercise restraint in the way they carry the stories of those arriving in Assam and other parts of the North-east following widespread rumours of impending attacks on north-easterners in South India.
�The reality of the situation in Bangalore, for instance, is that community leaders and representatives from the North-east and the Muslim community have been hard at work to build trust between these communities and restore peace here. If any backlash takes place in Assam as a result of the stories that are carried, there is a danger of repercussions occuring in cities like Bangalore,� it said.
Pointing out that as the trains start arriving in Assam and elsewhere there will be an urge to interview people to get a sense of what has been happening, it said that it was very likely that some of the stories �might be based not on facts but on hearsay and rumour�. It appealed to the media not to be overenthusiastic in presenting the news reports.
�This is an urgent appeal on behalf of the North-east community living in Bangalore and other cities outside of the North-east. The situation in many cities has been tense fuelled by rumours of potential violence as well as stray incidents, which have resulted in many people leaving these States and returning to their respective homes in Assam and elsewhere. We urge the media to be aware of the important role that it has in trying to bring back trust within all the communities and report without sensationalizing anything which could be used by troublemakers,� it said.
It further called upon the media to publish appeals in newspapers and channels requesting people who have left Karnataka and other States to return. �The media in the North-east has played a very vital role in promoting democratic values and ensuring the safety and security of people, and we hope that at this critical hour all of you will join hands in promoting a more peaceful and stable future,� it added.
