Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 11: The information about a conspiracy having been hatched to eliminate three Hindu leaders from the region including Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader, has spread. The three leaders have taken abundant precautions relating to their safety, it is learnt.

The information was conveyed by the central intelligence department, it is said. Police department has therefore taken steps to ensure safety of the leaders concerned. The police officials here, however, are tight-lipped about the information and have also refused to confirm whether this information is true.

Dr Prabhakar Bhat, Sharan Pumpwell and Jagadish Shenava

It is said that police department officials called Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Sharan Pumpwell, on Thursday morning, advising him against moving about freely. Besides asking him to be alert, he was also asked to convey to Kalladka Dr Prabhakar Bhat that he has been advised to be away from the region for two to three days, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Jagadish Shenava, too needs to be very careful about his safety.

There are rumours about groups from Kerala having made a plan to launch suicide attacks on the three leaders.

Dr Prabhakar Bhat, who was to leave for Bengaluru in a car, was sent to the airport here with police escort, it is said. He was then shifted to a place considered to be safe. As per information, Shenava and Pumpwell too have left for safe spots.

Deputy commissioner of police, Hanumantharaya, said that he has observed media report about the threat perception and added that the police do not have any information about the conspiracy. District superintendent of police, B M Lakshmi Prasad, speculated that someone would have spread this rumour after observing that Dr Prabhakar Bhat was accompanied by a gunman.

While Prabhakar Bhat and Shenava are always escorted by gunmen, with police escort during outside visits, Sharan Pumpwell does not have a gunman.

Dr Prabhakar Bhat however confirmed that he had received information from the police about the threat to his life, and that additional care has been taken in this background. He said he continues to have security in the form of five armed policemen as before.