E-mail threat to PM; security tightened in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27: Security has been tightened in Kerala after some top officials received email containing a threat to the life of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his scheduled visit to the state capital on November one.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said security has been tightened and two suspects were taken into custody for interrogation in connection with the email message.

After an emergency meeting with top police officials here, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told newspersons that the email had originated in Kochi and a special squad headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Zone) K Padmakumar was being constituted to investigate the case.

However, he evaded a direct reply to questions on the content of the email, saying it could not be disclosed at this stage. 'The message is that ... will do it when the Prime Minister comes.' A meeting of top police officials, chaired by the Home Minister began at noon to review security arrangements being made for the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit to the state to attend two public functions in Thiruvananthapuram and one in neighbouring Kollam.

Referring to letter bombs received by some people during President A P J Abdul Kalam's recent visit to the state and anonymous bomb threats to educational institutions, he said Government would look into all aspects. Police could trace the source of the letter bomb and has the technology to trace the source of the email too.

It would also be examined whether such threatening messages were being sent by some elements to divert the attention of the police.

Earlier, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Jacob Punnose told UNI that, whenever the police received such emails involving the name of VIPs, it took the matter very seriously.

Adequate security measures had been taken in view of the development.

According to police sources, several top officials received the email message. The owner of a Kochi-based internet cafe was interrogated by police in connection with the mail.

UNI

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