The Mumbai police received a concerning email on Thursday night, in which an unidentified sender issued threats to blow up the Prime Minister and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the venue for several ICC Men's Cricket World Cup matches. The sender demanded a hefty sum of ₹500 crore and the release of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Bishnoi, who has been incarcerated since 2014, is suspected of orchestrating criminal activities from behind bars, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, according to media reports.
The threat email was initially directed to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with indications that it originated from Europe. The NIA promptly alerted the Mumbai police, setting off an investigation to trace the source. Although authorities are inclined to view the message as a potential hoax or mischief originating from a foreign location, they are actively pursuing the sender. Security measures for all cricket matches will be reviewed and enhanced if deemed necessary.
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In the email sent to the NIA, the sender ominously stated, "We will blow up Narendra Modi and the Narendra Modi stadium as well if the government fails to pay us ₹500 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."
The inaugural match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world's largest cricket stadium, featuring a face-off between England and New Zealand.
In a related incident, an FIR was filed against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-based 'designated individual terrorist,' for issuing threats and inciting enmity ahead of the scheduled India-Pakistan ICC World Cup 2023 match. Pannun, also the founder of the banned organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), delivered pre-recorded threatening messages through various social media platforms. His message ominously declared, "It will not be the start of the World Cup Cricket but this will be the beginning of the world terror cup," and expressed a desire for revenge for the assassination of Shaheed Nijar.
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Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been under the scrutiny of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) since 2019 for his involvement in promoting and commissioning terror acts, spreading fear and terror in Punjab and other parts of the country through threats and intimidation tactics
