Bangalore (mizonews.net): While the Karnataka government, Hindu outfits like Sri Rama Sena and Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS), Muslim organisations and civil society exhorted the northeast people, especially students, not to leave the city or the state, mischief makers on Friday were still at large. However, this time, the police swiftly acted and arrested three people.

Three people from Vaiphei community of Manipur were assaulted by some goons in Wilson Garden area. The three were working in a shopping mall in the heart of the city.

“The three accused – Abrar Ahmed, Salman and Vinay – aged around 22-24, were arrested under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for assaulting three people from Manipur,” Bangalore Deputy Commissioner of Police (central) Ravikante Gowda said.

The victims had gone to Big Bazaar located in the Shantinagar bus terminal of the state-run Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) for shopping when they were attacked.

Meanwhile, the police have intensified patrolling in sensitive areas.

Leaders of various tribes from North-East also held a press conference at the Press Club calling for calm and sensitizing the public with what had happened in Assam.

Police have withheld names of the victims for their safety and security reasons.

“The victims filed a complaint at the Wilson Garden police station that they were chased by the accused from the shopping mall and beaten up suddenly when they were walking on the Double Road leading to the Lalbagh garden,” Gowda said.

Police began interrogating the accused to ascertain why they had attacked the three Manipuris and if more people were involved in the incident.

“We are investigating the incident from all angles. The accused will be produced in a local court Saturday after interrogation and for further remand,” Gowda added.

Helplines have been set up in Hyderabad (040-27852333 and 23261166), Bangalore (080- 22250999, 080-22942222) and Chennai (09840295100, 09677066100 and 09789088100).