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.