Consulate official gets death threat from TN

A protocol official with a foreign consulate in Bengaluru has alleged death threat to him and family from his hometown in Periyakulam in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

He suspects the threat calls were triggered by an anti-encroachment drive that he supports back in his hometown. The official, Murugan M, lodged a complaint with the Cubbon Park police on Saturday, based on which the police have registered an FIR against the caller, booking him under section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication).

Murugan, who hails from Silvarpatti town in Tamil Nadu, said in his complaint that he had helped officials of the panchayat development office in an anti-encroachment drive. Several villagers, who had encroached upon a rajakaluve, threatened Murugan to keep off, but he continued to support the officials and campaign for the drive.

Enraged by this, a few began to call him and threaten him with dire consequences from January. Initially, he ignored the calls, but when the caller threatened to kill him and harm his wife and family, he approached the police.

The Cubbon Park police are trying to track down the caller with the two phone numbers he used to call Murugan. Earlier, Murugan said, he was threatened by calls made from coin booths.