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Lashkar planned to attack Azim Premji's residence

Lashkar planned to attack Azim Premji's residence

Author: Anil Lulla
Publication: The News Today
Date: January 3, 2001

The Lashkar-e-Toiba made an aborted attempt to attack ICE baron Azim Premji's residence in Bangalore to attract international attention.  This was disclosed to the police by a Lashkar militant, arrested in New Delhi for his role in the Red Fort shoot out.

The militant told Delhi police that three LeT activists arrived in Bangalore from Hyderabad last month and checked out Premji's farmhouse-cum-residence on the banks of Bellandur lake.  They, however, aborted the idea of blowing it up as they could not find any local youths to help them.

Premji, the militant has disclosed, was chosen as any attack on him would attract international attention.

However, Delhi Police officials have declined that Premji was the target of the Lashkar militants.  The officials who interrogated Ashfaq, the lone militant was arrested in connection with the Red Fort shootout case, said that he did not reveal any plans to target any businessmen even after gruelling interrogation sessions.The officials stated that even a hint in this connection would have certainly prompted the Delhi Police investigate this angle thoroughly.

This news has put the Karnataka government in a fix.  Premji has, twice in the past, declined Z-category security offered by the state government.

Home minister Mallikarjun M.  Kharge said despite the threat perception, both the Bangalore-based ICE leaders, Wipro Ltd's Premji and Infosys' Narayana Murthy, have turned down security cover.

Kharge said the government will again try to convince them to accept state protection.  Both the entrepreneurs are known for their simple lifestyle.

While Premji lives in a villa in Bellandur close to the Wipro headquarters, Murthy lives in J.P.  Nagar, a crowded residential area.

Intelligence sources said, during the last two years the state government has reviewed VIP security arrangements twice.  And on both occasions a committee, headed by the Bangalore police commissioner, has recommended Z-category security to both Premji and Murthy.

"Now that the threat perception has proved real, we hope they will accept some security arrangements.  Under the Z-category, they would have been provided with an escort vehicle and a couple of plain clothes men at their residences.

"Now we will convince them to accept at least armed guards at their respective residences."

Both Premji and Murthy were unavailable for comment.
 


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