Lashkar threat to kidnap hockey star

By Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI, JULY 5. Dhanraj Pillay, former Indian hockey team captain, has been under the protection of the Mumbai police for over a month now following a threat from the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit to kidnap him. A Pune-based industrialist, who faces the same threat, has also been provided police protection.

After remaining silent for a long time in keeping with police advice, the hockey star came out into the open as the Indian Hockey Federation chose Jammu as the venue for the camp for the coming Azlan Shah tournament. Scheduled to begin on July 9, the camp coincides with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's Agra meeting with Pakistan's President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, on July 15. It is learnt the threats came to light following the interrogation of four gangsters arrested in Thane.

``I want to attend the camp, but my family fear for my life if I go to Jammu since militant strikes are still happening there,'' Pillay told The Hindu. ``So I spoke to Mr. K. P. S. Gill, IHF president, on Thursday, conveying my apprehensions about going to Jammu with the kidnap threat hanging over my head and expressed willingness to train anywhere in India, like Chennai or Bangalore, under a coach of their choice. He understands my situation and I am waiting for his directive.''

The triple Olympian met Mr. M. N. Singh, Mumbai Police Commissioner, on Thursday to seek guidance on the future course of action after his name appeared in the list of IHF probables for the Jammu camp. ``I have been under police protection ever since the police alerted me about the kidnap threat. My home in Pune is guarded while the Mumbai police provide security for me when I move around in Mumbai. For the last one-and-a-half months, I have been quiet about it. Now if I don't report for the Jammu camp without the IHF becoming aware of the reason, my silence and absence may be misinterpreted,'' he said.

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