Around 10 people from the Northeast have been beaten up in separate incidents over the past two days in the upscale Kondhwa and Pune Camp area of the city, sparking fear in the 8,000-strong community. Most of those attacked are students.

Police have registered complaints of rioting against unidentified persons and begun a probe. They will look into the possibility of the attacks being linked to the recent violence in Assam's Bodo areas.

Four students were allegedly beaten up near Poona College Thursday. A second complaint was filed by youngsters who claimed to have been beaten up in Kondhwa. On Thursday, a Manipuri student had lodged a similar complaint.

Some complainants have reportedly told police that their attackers asked them if they were from Assam, and assaulted them without waiting for a reply.

Infosys employee Kahomdai Panmei (29) of Manipur, who lives in Kondhwa, said he was attacked for no reason. Poona College student Premanand Khomdram of Manipur said a mob asked if he was from Assam. Several others lodged complaints of assault on August 8 and 9. "We have done no wrong," Rock Lungleng, a student leader from Manipur, said.

Four Naga students were reportedly attacked in Poona College and two in Kondhwa, while two Kuki students were allegedly beaten up when they went to Poona College. "We are helping the police," Principal G M Naziruddin said.

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