Lashkar threat to blow up Golden Temple

Amritsar, Oct 4 (UNI) The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has threatened to blow up the Golden Temple, the holy Sikh shrine which is visited by thousands of visitors every day, on October 6.

The hand-written letter signed by one Karim Ansari which was made avaliable to the UNI stated that explosives would be used to blow up the Golden Temple as well as the Amritsar railway station and the general bus stand.

The letter in Hindi was received by post at the SGPC headquarters here yesterday, SGPC secretary Harbeant Singh confirmed today.

Mr Harbeant Singh said that the letter was handed over to SSP, S S Srivastva.

The letter further threatened to blow up the Raghunath temple in Jammu and the railway station there on October 7 and said on the following day the holy Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi would be targeted. The letter threatened that the LeT would unleash a bloodbath in Jammu and Kashmir.

''It could be a mischief, but we are taking no chances. We are trying to ascertain the place from where the letter was posted.

Adequate security measures have been taken to ensure safety of the holy shrine and other places,'' the SSP said.

Mr Harbeant Singh said that the SGPC Task Force, incharge of the security of the shrine had been alerted.

Meanwhile additional security force personnel have been stationed around the temple complex, the railway station and the bus stand. A copy of the threat letter had been faxed to the Jammu and Kashmir police.

UNI XC-HS JN YA KN1912