Goa R-Day Hoax Caller Threatened to Kill Defence Minister

Panaji, Jan 22 (IANS) A 19-year-old student who was arrested in Goa for making a hoax call to Delhi Police threatening to disrupt the Republic Day parade, also said he would "kill" the defence minister and even reproduced audio from his mobile phone, which resembled the sound of firing, police said Thursday.

A statement issued by Goa Police said BCom student Nasti Steve Coutinho made a similar call, warning of a terror attack at Rajpath Jan 26, to the Cuncolim police station in south Goa.

The statement said the youth threatened "to kill the DM" and invite one "Khalid Faisel" for further terror activities in India.

Police spokesperson John Aguair confirmed that the "DM" mentioned in the statement referred to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the former chief minister of Goa.

"Further, the accused produced his mobile phone having recording of a terrorist-like conversation and firing-like sound effect created by him with the help of his laptop," said the statement issued by Goa Police.

The statement also said the youth was arrested after a police officer noticed three suspected people standing opposite a petrol pump on the national highway 17, along with a van and two motorcycles and heard them talking to launch terrorist activities on Rajpath Jan 26.

Coutinho, a resident of Cuncolim village, 50 km from Panaji, was arrested late Wednesday under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 and the Arms Act.

Earlier Thursday, more charges were slapped against Coutinho for creating or promoting "enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities on ground of religion".

Security has been beefed up across India, especially in New Delhi, in view of US President Barack Obama's presence at the Republic Day parade.