Pune: Security beefed up for Prez after email threat

Pune , Oct 13: Security of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has been beefed up following an email threat to her received by Maharashtra police yesterday.

The President, who arrived here on Friday on a four-day visit, was provided a new bullet-proof vehicle yesterday, official sources told UNI.

The vehicle was requistioned from Mumbai, the sources added.

Though no group has claimed responsibility for the threatening and ''abusive'' email, state and central intelligence agencies were on the job to trace the email, which was possibly received by Mumbai police.

Undeterred by the security threat, Ms Patil spent an extra 30 minutes at the Commonwealth Youth Games which she declared open here last evening.

More than 1,300 athletes and 350 officials from 71 countries are participating in the games. In view of the threat, all vehicles to Raj Bhawan here were being thoroughly checked. When a mediaperson asked a cop why they were checking even the which were security-marked vehicles, he quipped,''email threat''.

The mail also mentioned the Prime Minister but the context of his name in it could not be ascertained.

The threat said attacker could come in any ''disguise,'' the sources said.

The President was scheduled to visit a village here this morning before flying back to New Delhi in the afternoon.

UNI