New Delhi, December 20
As the Chief Ministers deliberated on strengthening the internal security in the wake of terrorism and Naxalite problem, the Delhi High Court has received a threat by a purported e-mail from Osama bin Laden’s international terror network Al-Qaida to its judges.

The sources in the HC denied of receiving any e-mail but admitted of receiving a threat by a “pamphlet” at its registrar-general’s house.

The Delhi police also gave confusing versions neither confirming nor denying about the receipt of the threat by e-mail from Al-Qaida.

Whatever may be the mode of the threat, the sources said the matter has been taken up with the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to take up the necessary remedial measures.

Though the sources declined to reveal the contents of the threat, received about 10 days back, it purportedly had reference to the Parliament House and the Taj Mahal also.

The Delhi police put on job by the MHA to verify the source of the threat though confirmed that it existed and was addressed to the High Court registrar.

Since several terrorists were facing trials in various courts across the country, the terror outfits had of late directed their ire against judiciary as was evident with simultaneous attacks on the court complexes in Varnasi, Faizabad and Lucknow on November 23, the day when cases against terrorists were listed there for hearing. Thirteen persons, including four lawyers were killed in the attacks in the UP courts.

As a follow up action, the High Court registrar had a discussion with Delhi police commissioner Y.S. Dadwal, while the security of the judges, Chief Justice M.K. Sharma and the High Court complex had been beefed up.

“The courts have become a potential terror target. We are not complacent and every measure was being taken to ensure security,” a senior police officer handling the case said.

He admitted that the courts were being targeted mainly because of the trial against terrorists, which was evident form the attacks on the UP courts.

He said the court administration had been asked to enforce entry strictly and does not allow any one to get inside without a valid pass issued by it.

“On our part we have taken adequate security measures with bomb disposal and dog squads put on high alert for any exigency,” he said adding that additional personnel had been deployed on the High Court’s and judges’ security.