With the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 underway in India, the Mumbai Police have reportedly received an email threatening to blow up Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat that is hosting several matches of the tournament.
In the email, which was sent to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the sender demanded Rs500 crore and the release of incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to stop the attack. The email also mentioned that militants were already in position to carry out the attacks.
The email stated, "We will blow up Narendra Modi and the Narendra Modi stadium as well if the government fails to pay us Rs500 crore and release Lawrence Bishnoi. Everything sells in Hindustan, so we too have bought something. No matter how much you secure, you won’t be able to remain safe from us. If you wish to talk, do so on this email."
A police official told the media all the agencies concerned have been alerted and claimed they have also obtained the email ID where it was sent from.
Preliminary investigation revealed the email originated from Europe and suggested it could be a hoax or a mischief orchestrated from a foreign location. Nonetheless, security forces are actively searching for the sender, and the safety measures for all cricket matches will be reevaluated and strengthened if necessary.
This threat follows a prior warning from Khalistani separatists who had claimed to turn the World Cup into a “World Terror Cup”.
Responding to this, Ahmedabad police's cybercrime branch had registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation.
Later, security at the stadium was intensified, with around 3,500 police personnel deployed during the opening match on October 5 at Narendra Modi stadium in Motera.
