Former India captain and ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and his wife, Dona Ganguly, have received a death threat, triggering concern over the security of the high-profile family in Kolkata. According to the police complaint filed by the Ganguly family and Personal assistant of the former Indian skipper, the latest letter was opened at the office of Bengal cricket president on Monday. It was written entirely in English and contained explicit threats to ‘eliminate’ or ‘finish’ the cricketer and his family.
Family sources said that such letters have been coming in for the past six months. They were earlier brushed aside as notes from overzealous fans. But the repeated nature of them and the aggressive language in the most recent one prompted the family to approach the police.
A formal written complaint has now been lodged at Thakurpukur Police Station. The state government’s security department has also been alerted and asked to take immediate steps.
“I wish to bring to your kind attention a matter of serious concern regarding certain threatening letters that have been received by Mr. Sourav Ganguly and his family.”
“For the past couple of months, we have been receiving letters from unknown person objectionable remarks against Mr. Ganguly. Initially we didn’t pay much attention to these letters, assuming that they were merely the work of someone who disliked Mr. Ganguly and was sending letters expressing his/her personal resentment.”
“However, today we have received two letters addressed to Mr. Sourav Ganguly and Mrs. Dona Ganguly, in which the sender has not only made hate remarks against Mr. Ganguly but has also issued serious threats to the life and safety of Mr. Ganguly, Mrs. Dona Ganguly and the people working [with/for] him.”
“The nature of the threats contained in the letters has caused serious concern among us. Since the letters have now escalated from hate/derogatory communication to explicit threats to life and personal safety, we believe that the matter requires immediate police intervention and investigation,” read the statement on the complaint.
“In view of the seriousness of the matter, I request you to kindly take necessary action, register and investigate the complaint, identify the person responsible for sending these threatening letters, and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of Mr. Sourav Ganguly, Mrs. Dona Ganguly and the staff working with them.”
Preliminary probe suggests the letters were sent via courier to the Ganguly residence. The sender’s name on the packet was listed as Arun Kumar, a Belgharia resident. Investigators traced a phone number mentioned in the letter. A ‘Truecaller’ search threw up the same name as well.
Police are now looking into whether the real Arun Kumar was the one who sent the letters, or if someone is using his identity to target the former India skipper.
“We have started an investigation and are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Mr. Ganguly and his family,” police officials told Ganguly’s PA in response to the complaint lodged.
Given Ganguly’s public profile, the security department is reviewing the threat and if there is a need for additional cover.
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