Advani's NE visit on despite Indian Mujahideen threat

Shillong/Guwahati, Sep 25 (UNI) The Meghalaya police today sounded a security alert after the Indian Mujahideen (IM) threatened to assassinate BJP's Prime Ministerial Candidate L K Advani during his Shillong visit on September 29, even as the BJP said the visit was on.

''The email, sent by the Indian Mujahideen to 'The Shillong Times' and 'Mawphor'(local dailies) threatening to kill Mr Advani, is being taken very seriously,'' Meghalaya Director General of Police B K Dey Sawian told UNI in Shillong.

''We are investigating into the source of the e-mail threat seriously after considering the serial blasts carried out by the Indian Mujahideen in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Gujarat,'' the DGP added.

BJP spokesperson at the North East region central office in Guwahati confirmed that the party leader's visit was on as per the previous schedule of addressing rallies at Guwahati on September 28 and at Shillong the next day.

''All preparations for the visit are complete and the police has also been preparing for the visit as Mr Advani's security is entrusted with the union government and the concerned state government,'' BJP spokesperson Dr P Thakuria said in Guwahati.

He added that BJP central observer for Assam Harendra Pratap had been camping in Guwahati since yesterday and Mr V Satish, joint secretary, was also in the city to oversee the preparations. Assam Police sources confirmed a complete security blanket for the visit of the BJP's prime minister-in-waiting, with the Meghalaya police also affirming fool-proof arrangements.

However, the email threat was being considered gravely by both police departments, with the Meghalaya Police engaged in tracking the source and tightening its security measures further.

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha is visiting the region as part of his countrywide 'Sankalp Yatra'. He would spend the night at Guwahati after addressing a rally there on September 28 before proceeding to Shillong the next day for a daylong programme.

The email, sent by 'Field Commander North East' Ali Hussain Badr, claimed that the IM's ''suicide squad'' had set foot in Shillong and was ready to kill Mr Advani during his public address on September 29.

''We have vowed to kill Advani on his visit to Shillong on 29th of this September. We have already convened a meeting of Field Commanders to decide as to how revenge could be taken,'' the e-mail said.

Stating that the BJP under Mr Advani was pushing India into a ''fascist mould'' by continuing its attack on Muslims and Christians around the country, the e-mail said, ''Advani has always tried to portray the Muslims and Christians as inveterate enemies of the Hindus.'' EDS:Here pick up suitably from earlier series.

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