Bangalore:  State Home Minister R Ashok has appealed to the North Eastern States people who recently fled the state following SMS threats, to return to the state immediately. He has tried to convince them that the state was safe and no untoward incident has been reported.

Ashok was speaking to reporters after having consultations with Dolma Garry, Tibet Home Minister who is in Bangalore. He also stated that security has been stepped up in areas where North Eastern state people resided.

He said so far 20 persons have been arrested for sending threatening SMSes and added stern action would follow against the guilty. He said if 3.5 lakh NE people are residing in Karnataka, around 25000 of them had fled the state recently.

Dolma Garry expressed her happiness over the steps taken by the state government to ensure protection to north eastern states people.