India turns to Interpol over threats by sect

Press, 19 November 1977, Page 9

India turns to Interpol over threats by sect

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi India said yesterday that it had asked Interpol for help after threats against its diplomats in li countries by the Ananda Marga religious sect. The sect — in Sanskrit the name means “Path of Bliss” — is linked with the September stabbing of an Indian military attache in Australia. An Air India employee was also stabbed and wounded in Australia last month. Attacks on Indian property in Britain have also been blamed on the sect, which seeks the release of Prahbat Ranjan Sarkar, aged) 56 its founder. Known as Ananda Murtiji — “Bliss Personified” — the! former rail clerk is jailed! for life for the murder of! six sect detectors. The External Affairs Min-'

i ister (Mr Atal Bihari Vaj- : payee) disclosed that Inter- • pol had been asked for help, : at Parliamentary question , time in the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Mr Vajpayee said t.hreat- : ening letters had been t‘e- ’ ceived by 11 Indian mis- , sions, but attacks had been . made only in Canberra and London and against the Air , India office in Melbourne. I No letter had accompanied ; a bomb blast on Thursday at | the Air India office in Kuala . Lumpur. But the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had received a letter * from the Universal Proutist ;; Revolutionary Federation, a [wing of the'Ananda Marga,! [demanding Sarkar’s release. ! It said the life of the ! Prime Minister (Mr Morarji 'Desai) would otherwise be [in danger, but it made no 'reference to the bomb. i