North-East exodus: Centre blames Pak for rumours

New Delhi: Bulk of the rumours that triggered panic among people of northeastern states in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were sourced from Pakistan, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said. “A total of 76 websites were identified where morphed images were uploaded and bulk of these were uploaded in Pakistan,” Singh told PTI. “Morphed images and photographs of people who had died in cyclones and earthquakes were circulated as victims of violence in Myanmar in 76 websites. All these websites have been blocked. 34 more sites were identified and they will also be blocked soon,” he said. “We believe it is highly reprehensible. I think it needs to be made known to everybody that this is something that is being done from Pakistan. The bulk of it has been done from Pakistan,” he said. The Home Secretary said the issue will be raised with Pakistan. “We will raise this issue with Pakistan. I am certain they will refute it but our technical team of experts is certain about the origin,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_422567” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Bulk of the rumours that triggered panic among people of northeastern states in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were sourced from Pakistan, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said. AP[/caption] As a step towards rumours being spread, Government had on Friday imposed a 15-day ban on bulk SMSes and MMSes. Karnataka and Assam police are looking for some people who were responsible for circulating SMSes, he said, adding that no linkages have been found between those arrested and any known terrorist group. “But one of our agencies has identified another person who has been arrested. He has indicated certain linkages which are being investigated,” he said. Driven by rumours, over 30,000 northeast people have left Bangalore fearing attacks on them while many of them have fled Chennai and Pune in the last three days, notwithstanding assurances from the Centre and the state governments. PTI