Attacks on N-E students continue in Pune; 9 held

Attacks on N-E students residing in Pune continued with four more persons targeted

Attacks on Northeast students residing in Pune continued with four more persons targeted in Kondhwa and Hadapsar on Saturday. The Pune police have arrested nine persons and detained 10 more from Kondhwa in connection with the earlier attacks. Police are also probing into a doctored MMS clip being circulated in the city about the riots in Assam,which is suspected to have provoked the miscreants to attack the N-E students.

Till Saturday afternoon,six different cases had been registered in connection with attacks reported on at least 10 persons since Thursday. Inspector Prasad Hasabnis said the police were holding discussions with local leaders to create awareness and tell them that no one from the Northeast living in the city had any connection with what was going on in Assam.

On Saturday night,four persons,including Premanand Khomdrom (25),who was beaten up on Thursday too,were attacked. Around 10.30 pm,Khomdrom was about to reach his house in Ramtekdi area when a mob attacked him,took him to a secluded spot and beat him up. When I showed them my driving licence and said I was not from Assam,they left me there, he said.

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In another case,a mob barged into the house of Poona College student Rokuozetuo Ltu (25) of Manipur and attacked him with with iron rods .

On Sunday,the police arrested nine persons who were remanded to police custody till August 18.

About the MMS clip,police sources said it purportedly showed a woman talking about the Assam violence and also referring to the Gujarat riots. It shows violence in some Southeast Asian country. The similarities in facial features is misleading some to think that the clips are from Assam , said an officer who did not wish to be named.