India on security alert after al-Qaeda threat of suicide attacks
Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has threatened to carry out “suicide bombings” in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat to take revenge for the ”insult” of Prophet Muhammad by two now-suspended functionaries of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a threat letter dated June 6, al-Qaeda said it would launch suicide attacks to “fight for the honour of the Prophet”.
Central agencies are “seriously” looking into the threat letter sent by the terror outfit, agency sources said.
Alerts have been issued across these places through law enforcement agencies to tighten the vigil at specific locations like airports, metro, railway stations, and market areas, said a source privy to the development.
“Security personnel have been instructed to report to the concerned department soon after noticing any suspicious activity,” the agency said.
“The saffron terrorists should now await their end in Delhi, Bombay, UP, and Gujarat. They should find refuge neither in their homes nor in their fortified army cantonments,” a threat letter by the AQIS read.
It said that the “hearts of Muslims all over the world are bleeding” and they were filled with the feeling of revenge and retribution.
The letter also mentioned Ghazwa-e-Hind — the battle for India — which spoke about the victory of Muslims in the country. “At the same time, we bring tidings of death and destruction to the rulers of India, of executions and hangings, of imprisonment and being bound with chains,” read the letter.
The letter follows the controversy that has erupted after two BJP leaders allegedly made remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
On June 5, the BJP suspended its spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled media in-charge Naveen Jindal over the remarks. The party issued a statement emphasising its intolerance for disrespect of any religious personality.
The controversial statement made by Sharma set off an international furore.
Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology.
India, meanwhile, has maintained that the views belong to a few fringe elements only and do not represent those of the government of India.
India also “categorically rejected” as “unwarranted and narrow-minded” the OIC statement slamming India
Meanwhile, suspended BJP spokesperson Sharma was provided security by the Delhi police in the wake of death threats she has received over her controversial remarks.
The Statesman
Asia News Network
Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily, Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia, Dawn (Pakistan), The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).
