Venue of Jamaat-e-Islami shifted due to threat perception

Kochi: A public programme on secularism organised by an Islamic outfit here received threats following which its venue was changed, police said today.

The Peace and Harmony programme organised by Jamaat-e-Islamis local unit yesterday was shifted to another venue following the threat perception, they said.

The organisers agreed to a suggestion by the police and held the programme at a school premises in the neighbourhood. It was originally slated to be held near the high court.

The programme, attended by leaders from different religions, was held amidst tight security.

Police, however, declined to disclose any further detail about the security threat including its source.

“I cannot reveal much,” a senior police official said.

Jamaat-e-Islami said they did not receive any message of security threat.

“We changed the venue when the police informed us about the threat perception and asked us to hold the programme in another place,” Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mujeeb Rahman told PTI.

He said the outfit has been organising the Peace and Humanity campaign nationwide in the backdrop of “growing communal rift” in the society.

“In Kochi, we organised the programme in which leaders of different religions — Hindu, Muslim and Christian–came together on one stage and called for the need for an intensive campaign for establishment of peace and humanity in the society,” Rahman added. PTI