Ahead of French President Francois Hollande’s visit to India the French Consulate in Bengaluru has received a ‘threatening letter’ allegedly written by a terrorist outfit. Confirming the receipt of the letter, the police have taken up investigation. Police have also deployed additional forces near the consulate in the busy Vasanthnagar area and at France Cultural Centre Alliance Frances in the same area.
According to Police French officials of the consulate had filed a complaint in the High Grounds police station about a threat letter received by them which warned of attack on the Consulate if France President Francois Hollande did not cancel his visit to India to be the chief guest during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.
The letter was posted from Chennai, police sources said. Additional Commissioner of Police, West Zone, Bengaluru City, KSR Charan Reddy on Thursday said a police team has been sent to Chennai to investigate.
“On 11th of this month a letter was handed over by French consulate officers to high ground police station which was received by them by post. The ‘from’ address indicates that it is an address from Chennai and the letter is also posted in Chennai. It is a single page letter with an India map in the background. In the middle of the map, three lines were written in English,” Reddy said.
“Run structured type of English from which we can understand that it is a general threat given to the French people in the sense that the French president, who is expected to be the chief guest in the Republic Day in Delhi is not supposed to come and take part as a chief guest,” Reddy said. Francois Hollande, who is the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations, is likely to be received by PM Modi at the Chandigarh Air Force Station.