BANGALORE: Undeterred by attacks on people from the northeast that triggered an exodus, Manipur-born Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom said on Wednesday that Bangalore was a potential destination for her family, should the Koms decide to relocate from Imphal .

"I like Bangalore. The people are very nice and humble. The weather is good even during summer," said the 29-year-old. "I like it so much that I want to settle here after my career."

The champion said she was not comfortable raising her twin sons in insurgency-wracked Manipur, where she runs a boxing academy and serves in the police as a DSP.

Mary’s husband K Onler confirmed that the family was looking at the city to settle down in the future.

"Right now, Mary cannot leave her post (police job). After her retirement, we will look at options that include Bangalore, Pune and New Delhi. As many as 15 members of my family live in Bangalore. That will be an advantage," Mary's husband K Onler said.

Onler was distressed by at least six of his kin heading back to Manipur, spooked by the attacks in Bangalore. "I have advised the others to stay back in Bangalore as there are no jobs for them in Manipur. They are all employed with corporate houses here. I feel they should not fall victim to the mischief of a few troublemakers," he said.

Mary, too, expressed shock. "When I got to know of this, I was upset. My humble request to everyone is that we all pray for love and peace. If the problem in Bangalore reduces, I hope the northeast people come back and restart their lives. I'm really upset at the happenings across the nation."

Onler, whose father was killed in an attack in his home state, said fear should not dictate actions of his people in the state, especially when the situation had improved. "I'm told there are volatile pockets in the city. But we have always shared a good relationship with our Muslim brethren, so I am certain things will get better," he said.

Karnataka sports minister Appachu Ranjan said the government would welcome Mary to the city.

Times View

At a time when people from the north-east are fleeing from many parts of the country in rumour-fuelled fear for their lives, this is heartening news. It is particularly so given the fact that the epicentre of the exodus was in Bangalore. In life, as in the ring, Mary Kom has shown that she is one who is willing to fight the odds. We hope that this gesture will instill some much-needed confidence and encourage others from the north-east to return to their jobs elsewhere in the country. Perhaps it may also give some of those inciting violence or spreading rumours to pause and rethink what they have been doing.