Exodus of people from the northeast from Karnataka to their home states driven by fears of attacks subsided on Saturday but there was no let up for the third consecutive day in the numbers of those fleeing Chennai and Pune. In Bangalore, railway officials said the number of those wanting to leave the city had dwindled following assurances from the Centre and the state government.

In Chennai, people from northeast continued to exit the city for the third day with hundreds thronging the railway station and heading back home. The Pune railway station witnessed fear-stricken residents crowding the ticket counters in large numbers, desperate to head to their home states.

“Protection is being given by state governments. Some miscreants, undesirable elements and anti-social elements are spreading rumours that there is no protection to people of the northeast in South India. It is unwarranted. It is totally false and fabricated to create panic among people”, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said.