KSE gets overseas threat calls, seeks more security

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa has said that he has been receiving life threat calls from an unknown person from abroad.

Raising this issue in the Council on Monday, Eshwarappa requested the Chair to provide him more security.

While giving details of the calls, the former deputy chief minister said, “I was participating in a marriage function in Shivamogga on Sunday night. Around 9.33 pm, I got a call from 1669897 (the Internet call) which I did not receive. Around 10.40 pm, again I got a call which I received.

 He said, “You have been talking a lot about the Madikeri incident and cow slaughter. If you continue with the same, you will face problem.” The caller was speaking in Urdu interspersed with Kannada.  When I asked him to talk to me face to face if he had guts, the line got disconnected.”

Eshwarappa said it would be difficult for him to talk fearlessly in the Council if such calls are made to him. “My rights have been curtailed. The call details and the caller should be identified through an investigation,” he demanded.

 “I am not scared nor will I back down, but it is imperative that the call details be traced to ascertain who or which organisation has made this call, and from which country,” he added
Joining the issue, Congress’ Ivan D’souza said certain builders and politicians of the costal districts have been receiving such threat calls in the recent years. The callers have agents to give them information. The government must keep a watch on such callers, he said.

In his reply, Home Minister G Parameshwara said that his department would initiate a detailed probe into the threat call received by Eshwarappa.

If need be, the assistance of Central agencies like RAW and IB would be sought.  He said that the department was already looking to the threat calls received by minister Abhaychandra Jain, U T Khader and Ramanath Rai.

 “It is a serious issue. Already investigations are on to ascertain who made the threat calls to the three ministers. Your safety is our concern,”  Parameshwara said.