Bengaluru Police says taking French Consulate threat letter seriously

Bengaluru : Bengaluru Police on Thursday said that it is taking the issue of a threat letter being received by the French consulate very seriously.

The French consulate in Bengaluru on Thursday received an ‘intimidating’ letter demanding that President Francois Hollande cancel his upcoming visit to India

Additional Commissioner of Police, West Zone, Bengaluru City, K S R Charan Reddy on Thursday said a police team has been sent to Chennai to investigate.

“Immediately the court’s permission was taken since it is a non-cognisable offence. And the case is restored in the high court. A team has been sent to Chennai, further investigation is on. We have taken the matter seriously. We are touch with the French consulate ministers,” Reddy told a press conference here.

“On 11th of this month a letter was handed over by French consulate officers to hygron.. police station which was received by them by post. The ‘from’ address indicates that it is an address from Chennai and the letter is also posted in Chennai. It is a single page letter with a India map in the background. In the middle of the map, three lines were written in English,” Reddy added

“Run structured type of English from which we can understand that it is a general threat given to the French people in the sense that the French president, who is expected to be the chief guest in the Republic Day in Delhi is not supposed to come and take part as a chief guest. At the bottom of the letter the word Al-Qaeda was written,” Reddy said.

Francois Hollande, who is the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations, is likely to be received by PM Modi at the Chandigarh Air Force Station.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to receive Hollande in Chandigarh on January 24, the first day of his visit.

As many as 71 high-rise buildings in the vicinity of Rajpath in the national capital will be shut down either partially or completely on or before January 25 in view of Republic Day celebrations.

Modi and Hollande will also jointly lay the foundation of Interim Secretariat of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in Gurgaon on January 25.

Given the high-profile visit, falling on the eve of the Republic Day, the city police and the administration authorities are taking no chances and have tightened security.

The event will be attended by senior ministers apart from delegates from India and France. (ANI)