Meghalaya CM assures security to Advani

Shillong, Sep 25 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy has asked the police to remain extra alert following the Indian Mujahideen (IM's) threat to kill Opposition leader L K Advani during his visit to this capital town on September 29.

''I have asked the state police to track down the people who have threatened to kill Mr Advani during his visit to Shillong,'' Dr Roy told newspersons here.

The e-mail, sent by 'Field Commander North East' Ali Hussain Badr, claimed that the IM's ''suicide squad'' had set foot in the capital town and was ready to kill Mr Advani during his public address on September 29, which is a part of the BJP leader's nation-wide Sankalp Yatra.

''We have vowed to kill BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Advani on his visit to Shillong on September 29. We have already convened a meeting of field commanders to decide as to how revenge could be taken,'' Badr said.

The Chief Minister, who is leading the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government - which BJP is a part of it - said that the government would take all security measures to ensure Advani's safety during his visit to Shillong.

Earlier, BJP's minister in Meghalaya AL Hek had raised the matter with the Chief Minister and asked the police to investigate and authenticate the e-mail threat to the leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

Meanwhile, state BJP president HS Syiemlieh said the scheduled visit of Mr Advani was on and party workers were gearing up for the occasion.

''As of now we have received no communication from our party head office in New Delhi and so the visit is on,'' he stated.

''We have heard about the e-mail and we are pretty confident that security measures would be tightened by the district authorities concerned,'' Mr Syiemlieh added.

UNI RRK KK SK BD1825