'No information of threat'

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said there is no specific information of a threat to the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad beginning on Monday and the event would be held under complete security.

“I am satisfied that the World Badminton Championship will take place in complete security.

No one need to have any apprehensions on this score,” Chidambaram said responding to a question on reports of a terror threat to the championship to be held between August 10 and 16.

He said the alert in Hyderabad was based on information shared with the state police in a routine manner.

“There is no specific information that points to any imminent threat to the badminton championship in Hyderabad. Nevertheless, the state police has taken all measures necessary to fully secure the tournament and ensure the safety of every player,” Chidambaram said.

Reports from Hyderabad spoke of threat to the mega badminton tournament from Lashkar-e-Taiba and that the state police and intelligence agencies have fanned out to tighten security.

Meanwhile Andhra Pradesh police denied any specific intelligence report and said that there was no terror threat. “There were no specific Intelligence report about the terror alert particularly for the event,” the state Intelligence Chief K Arvinda Rao said.

Whenever such international events are held, we will get general information asking us to be alert, he said, adding police has made tight security arrangements to ensure safety of all players.