PM Modi's Kerala Visit: The Kerala Police apprehended a Kochi resident on Sunday for reportedly writing a letter threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a suicide bomb attack during his two-day visit to the state beginning Monday. M Xavier, a Kaloor resident, was recognised as the culprit by the police. Xavier admitted to detectives that he composed the letter in the name of someone against whom he had personal anger and whose name and phone number were listed in it, news agency ANI reported.
The threat indicated in Xavier's letter, according to Kochi City Police Commissioner K Sethu Raman, was a fabrication. “He (Xavier) wanted to trap another person. We arrested Xavier after collecting scientific evidence and conducting a forensic handwriting analysis,” he said.
"Tight security has been arranged for the Prime Minister arriving in Kochi. 2060 policemen have been appointed for this purpose. As part of this, traffic control has also been imposed from 2 pm," the Commissioner further stated.
"The Special Protection Group (SPG) is the most efficient security agency in the world. PM's Kerala visit will be held very smoothly. SPG will protect the life of the PM...Nobody can stop him (PM). The program will be a great success," BJP Kerala President K Surendran stated.
In the course of their investigation into the threat letter, police located a man called N K Johny, also known as Joseph John, whose residence was given in the message, which stated Modi will suffer the same end as former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Johny, a Kochi native, denied writing the letter but suspected that it was the work of someone with a vendetta against him who was behind the whole thing. He pointed a finger at Xavier when he saw the penmanship in the letter. The hostility between the two came from a disagreement at their local church about parish finances.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod from Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. He will also lay the groundwork for projects worth over Rs 3,200 crore, as well as dedicate the Kochi Water Metro to the country.
(With Inputs From ANI)