SHILLONG: In view of the news reports aired by Assam-based satellite TV channels (NEWS LIVE and DY 365) claiming mass exodus of Assamese people from Meghalaya, North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) chairman Samuel Jyrwa on Tuesday said trouble mongers should be held responsible for spreading rumours by using the media.
He said that confusion and panic have struck residents in both the states after the two satellite news channels based in Guwahati reported that Assamese-speaking people were being evicted from Shillong.
“It is really a matter of great concern since this kind of rumours is creating unnecessary panic among the general public especially among the students’ community. The worst part is that there is an attempt to give a communal flare to this whole issue,” Jyrwa said after a meeting with several organisations from Assam and Meghalaya.
Jyrwa claimed that there is an attempt to club the incident at NEHU and the eviction of migrant labourers from the construction sites of IIM and NIFT in New Shillong Township.
“I have seen certain news channels from Assam interviewing the labourers whose nationality could not be identified and started giving a communal colour to the issue,” Jyrwa said.
Meanwhile, Shillong Socio Cultural Assam Students’ Association (SSCASA) general secretary Krishna Kant Borah blamed trouble mongers for spreading rumours creating panic among the students.
“We (students from Assam) are safe and secure and the reported matter, showcased by the media (in Assam), were totally false,” he said.
NEHU Assam Students’ Association (NASA) general secretary Rishikesh Rajkhowa urged the news channel to “first verify the news before airing them”. Meanwhile, All Meghalaya Assamese Association president Dr. Mrinal Barthakur, secretary Bhabendra Lahkar, working president Prof. Parag Nath and finance secretary Dilip Goswami met Home Minister Roshan Warjri on Tuesday to discuss the panic situation in Shillong over the NEHU issue and the news of Assamese people leaving Shillong.
The Home Minister assured that group that the news was baseless and no incident had occurred between the Assamese and Khasi people in Shillong. She added that certain incident had taken place involving a company and the labourers.
The DGP, ADGP and Addl Secretary also met the group and assured that necessary action will be taken to deal with miscreants who were engaged in spreading rumours.