A Mumbai police officer has received a letter, reportedly from the terrorist group Islamic State, where a Pune ATS officer ACP Bhanupratap Barge and his family have been threatened of death.
The writer of the letter tried to give an impression that he belongs to the banned outfit, Islamic State (IS). Security at the ATS offices and the residences of officers’ mentioned in the letter has been beefed up.
“The letter mentions name of ACP Bhanupratap Barge of Pune ATS. It has threatened him with dire consequences. Security has been beefed up at his residence and office,” said a police officer.
Barge has been associated with several terror probes in the past, including the de-radicalisation of a 16-year-old Muslim girl from Pune who was in touch with the IS.
The authorities received the letter around two weeks ago and have initiated a probe.
According to the ATS, the girl got attracted to the IS ideology after watching a documentary on television and subsequently following related news on Al Jazeera channel.
“Later, she used the Internet to get in touch with ISIS contacts and got in touch with about 200 young people from different countries. An interrogation of her revealed that she was told to come to Syria for medical education and for further initiation,” Barge had said.
