Hazare gets threat to life from NRI, security stepped up

Anna Hazare, who is set to undertake a footmarch to protest the land bill, has received threat to his life on Facebook from a Canada-based NRI following which an FIR has been registered and security around the anti-graft crusader tightened.
"Time has come to kill Anna Hazare. I will be next Nathuram Godse," NRI Gagan Vidhu wrote on the social networking site, police said today.
Ashok Gautam, a resident of Kalyan near Mumbai and a Hazare supporter, too received messages in his account threatening to harm the Gandhian over the past three weeks following which he lodged a complaint last night, Inspector D M Katke of Mahatma Phule Chauk police station told PTI.

An FIR has been filed against two Canada-based NRIs-- Gagan Vidhu and his friend Neil under sections 506(2) of the IPC (criminal intimidation) and 66 A of the IT Act, he said, adding while Vidhu posted the threat message, the latter voiced support for it.
Hazare is scheduled to hold a meeting of his supporters at Sevagram in Maharashtra's Wardha district on March 9 where he is likely to announce the date for commencement of the march from there to Ramlila Maidan in Delhi against the land bill.
Hazare had earlier said his 1100-km foot march against the "anti-farmer" move will span over three months.

The threat message was posted on February 24 when Hazare launched a two-day agitation against the controversial ordinance, coinciding with the commencement of the Budget Session of Parliament.

Police is trying to trace the IP address from where the threat was issued besides carrying out a detailed probe with the help of the cyber cell of the police commissionerate here.
Noticing the Facebook post, Hazare's office had written to the state police headquarters a few days ago and sought a probe. In the meantime, Gautam approached Thane police with a complaint following which an FIR was registered.
Meanwhile, under fire for yet-to-be solved murders of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and veteran CPI leader Govind Pansare, Maharashtra Police has beefed up the security of the 77-year-old social activist at his residence in Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district.

Hazare's security has been strengthened and all steps have been taken to ensure his safety, an official at the state police headquarters said.