Taj receives another e-mail threat from Pak

The internet protocol address of the second e-mail that threatened to blow up Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Tower at Colaba in Mumbai has been tracked to Islamabad in Pakistan, reports Presley Thomas.

The internet protocol address of the second e-mail that threatened to blow up Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Tower at Colaba in Mumbai has been tracked to Islamabad in Pakistan. The e-mail, which landed on the official mail of the hotel on March 31, threatened to carry out an explosion.

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On March 30, a similar e-mail was sent to Hotel Taj in Chennai — the internet protocol address of which was tracked to Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

But the Mumbai crime branch, which tracked both the e-mails, said there was little scope for further investigation as it originated from Pakistan.

“Even if one goes back to previous cases, we could do little to prosecute offenders who sent such e-mails from foreign countries,” said a crime branch official, requesting anonymity. A similar e-mail was sent by a group which identified themselves as Deccan Mujahideen and claimed responsibility for the terror attack of November 26.

“The Mumbai terror attack is a classic example. We tracked the internet protocol address of that particular mail to Pakistan. But little could we do, even with the help of foreign agencies, to bring to book people like Zarar Shah,” added the officer.

A local newspaper office has received a threat call, warning of serial blasts in Bangalore if Rashid Malbari, an Interpol-certified criminal and aide of underworld don Chhota Shakeel, is not released.

Karnataka home minister VS Acharya had said on Thursday that Varun Gandhi, BJP candidate from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency, was on the hit-list of Malbari.

(With inputs from PTI)