Hubballi: A day after MLC Basavaraj Horatti took a dig at some seers for not supporting Lingayats to get a separate religion status at a massive rally in Hubli on Sunday, the senior JD(S) leader received a threat to his life on Monday. He has brought the matter to the notice of local police on Tuesday.
The threat letter was addressed to Horatti and sent to office on Pinto Road, and it was received by the office staff. The letter, having 2-3 lines written in Kannada, translates to: "Horatti, you will be eliminated soon. Five killers from Mumbai have already landed in Hubbali to kill you. It is better to be careful...your well-wishers."
Speaking to TOI, Horatti said: "I found a threatening letter in the post. I threw it into dustbin after reading it. But my staff and followers asked me not to take it (threat) lightly, and bring the matter to the notice of police. Realizing the gravity of the matter, I called the DCP (crime) and informed him about the threat letter. As per their advice, I handed over the letter to them and left for Bengaluru."
The MLC said that the letter bore the seal of Unkal post office, indicating its origin from Unkal. "But the letter bears no name of anyone — it is by an anonymous person. This is the first ever threat letter that I got in my political and public life. I don't know why miscreants are targeting me. I keep raising issues in the legislature session and also at rallies seeking separate religion status for Lingayat. So it is difficult to ascertain the exact reason for getting the threat. I don't want to point fingers at anyone. Let police conduct a thorough inquiry into this," he said, adding that such threats cannot stop him from raising issues and seeking a separate religion status to Lingayats.
Police commissioner M N Nagaraj said that they have received the copy of the letter on Tuesday evening. "We are going through its contents. We have provided security to Basavaraj Horatti," he added.
The matter is being investigated by Renuka Sukumar, DCP (law and order), and M P Sarvagol, police inspector, suburban police station. "We are looking into the recent developments to find out persons who may be behind this letter," he added.
The threat letter was addressed to Horatti and sent to office on Pinto Road, and it was received by the office staff. The letter, having 2-3 lines written in Kannada, translates to: "Horatti, you will be eliminated soon. Five killers from Mumbai have already landed in Hubbali to kill you. It is better to be careful...your well-wishers."
Speaking to TOI, Horatti said: "I found a threatening letter in the post. I threw it into dustbin after reading it. But my staff and followers asked me not to take it (threat) lightly, and bring the matter to the notice of police. Realizing the gravity of the matter, I called the DCP (crime) and informed him about the threat letter. As per their advice, I handed over the letter to them and left for Bengaluru."
The MLC said that the letter bore the seal of Unkal post office, indicating its origin from Unkal. "But the letter bears no name of anyone — it is by an anonymous person. This is the first ever threat letter that I got in my political and public life. I don't know why miscreants are targeting me. I keep raising issues in the legislature session and also at rallies seeking separate religion status for Lingayat. So it is difficult to ascertain the exact reason for getting the threat. I don't want to point fingers at anyone. Let police conduct a thorough inquiry into this," he said, adding that such threats cannot stop him from raising issues and seeking a separate religion status to Lingayats.
Police commissioner M N Nagaraj said that they have received the copy of the letter on Tuesday evening. "We are going through its contents. We have provided security to Basavaraj Horatti," he added.
The matter is being investigated by Renuka Sukumar, DCP (law and order), and M P Sarvagol, police inspector, suburban police station. "We are looking into the recent developments to find out persons who may be behind this letter," he added.
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