LeT threatens 'Holi terror' in Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi, Mar 2: Security has been stepped up in the holy cityfollowing the receipt of a letter purportedly sent by terror outfitLashkar-e-Toiba, which has threatened to wreak havoc on Holi inVaranasi and Lucknow.

The hand-written inland letter received by the alumni cell of theBanaras Hindu University (BHU) last evening has allegedly been authoredby an LeT operative of Jammu.

''The letter contains specific threat of wreaking havoc on Holi --March 4 -- at the blast-hit Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi Cantonmentrailway station, besides Kashi Vishwanath temple and BHU Vishwanathtemple here,'' BHU chief proctor S K Singh told UNI here today.

The letter further states Lucknow railway station is also an LeTtarget on Holi. Besides, the letter also threatens to trigger blast atthe Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on Ram Navami to be followed withanother blast at Mathura, Mr Singh informed.

The letter ends with 'Jehad Zinda Hai' (Jehad is alive) followed by 'LeT operative Jammu'.

''The letter has been handed over to the district police,'' he added.

Incidentally, two LeT terrorists had escaped from police custody on February 27 from Lucknow district court premises.

Confirming the receipt of the letter, SSP Sujit Pandey said, ''Weare not considering it a Holi prank. The matter has been takenseriously and security has been beefed up at all sensitive places,including Sankatmochan and Kashi Vishwanath temples. Investigations areunderway in the matter.'' The letter received by the BHU administrationassumes significance, since on March 7 last year two powerful blastshad rocked the Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi Cantonment railwaystation here within a span of 15 minutes, killing 18 people andwounding over 100 others.

UNI

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