BANGALORE, India (AP) — Thousands of Indians from the northeast are fleeing the southern city of Bangalore, spurred by rumors they would be attacked in retaliation for communal violence in their home state of Assam.
Panicked Assamese crowded Bangalore's main railway station Thursday trying to get on to trains heading out of the city. Government officials tried in vain to assure them of their safety.
The exodus followed clashes in Assam in recent weeks between Muslims and members of the indigenous Bodo tribe that killed more than 50 people and left 300,000 in displacement camps.
The violence has spilled to other states where Bodos and other ethnic tribe members from Assam have migrated in search of jobs.
Those fleeing Bangalore were fearful they would be targeted by Muslims.
