On Wednesday, four high-end Mumbai hotels received a threat mail from a person claiming to be a member of the terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Owing to which, the Mumbai and Thane rural police have beefed up security in five-star hotels and clubs located near International airport in Andheri, Juhu and Santacruz area and Mira Road.
The sender has threatened to blow up the hotels if they failed to pay demanded ransom. Hotel Leela, Hotel Princess, Hotel Park and Hotel Ramada Inn are the hotels that have received the threat mails. After which, the hotels were thoroughly checked but the police did not find anything suspicious during the check.
In the meantime, ATS and crime branch officials have started an inquiry in the incident. The bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) have been deployed at the said locations. While nothing suspicious has been found, the officials are keeping a close eye on movements in the hotel premises.
According to police officials, the unidentified sender has also sent threatening emails to a former MLA of BJP who runs a hotel and club in Mira road. The subject of the threat mail was: "Lashkar-e-Taiba wants the management of your hotel".
The email said,
"We Lashkar-e-Taiba, Central Vilayat of Pakistan and Caliphate supporters, sent our shaheed to your hotel, he will arrive within 24 hours. If you do not want death and explosions, we will give the order to stop the operation. Pay 100 bitcoins to our wallet... if after 24 hours we don't receive bitcoins, there will be a lot of blood and dead people. If we failed to explode your hotel, we will begin to abduct and kill children from the families of your employees. Tell your owners that this is not a joke, or that death awaits you. We are ready to die in the name of Allah and nothing can stop us."
The police officials suspect that it is a hoax mail. However, they are not taking any chances and have deployed additional security at the hotels. Alongside, the cybercrime cell of the crime branch is also carrying out an inquiry.