Students from northeast on a peace tour to Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Students from Northeastern states affected by terror and ethnic attacks are touring the city to convey the message of harmony, as part of the home ministry's peace tour across the country. Five youngsters each from Manipur and Assam, whose fathers were ethnic clashes, are availing education under the government-run National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH).
Speaking to TOI, the students, aged between 18 and 21 years recounted their horror but maintained that they are committed to the cause of peace and harmony. "My father was killed by Naga community members to which he belonged, for marrying my mother who belongs to the Kuki tribe," said M G Beitailou (18), from Manipur. Her mother had to move away from Imphal , Manipur's capital and face allegations of murdering her husband.
Dheeraj Das (21), an engineering student from Guwahati, lost his father, a tea plant worker, to ULFA militants. "My father was shot at work. The ULFA demanded extortion from the tea plant owner. They did not harm the owner but killed my father," he said.
NFCH has stated objective to support children orphaned by violence by way of financial assistance. It also involves governments and private organisations to promote societal harmony.
Under the programme, the students from Assam and Manipur will experience city's culture and witness interaction between various communities. The group is expected to give a folk performance a regional cultural programme
at Siasat daily's office on March 26.
"I was asked by the MHA to host the youngsters who are stepping out of their states for the first time and I agreed to it," said editor Zahid Ali Khan.