Manager received threat to bomb hotel because of meditation guru from India

A hotel manager received a threat to bomb the hotel if he allows a meditation guru from India to conduct his programme there.

A police spokesman said the threat was made in a letter sent by express mail addressed to the hotel in Jalan Magazine.

"The sender was angry with the meditation guru claiming he had labelled Muslims in Iran and Iraq as infidels and was involved in wrongful activities."

The letter received on March 24 was sent from a false address in Kuala Lumpur.

The spokesman said the meditation guru arrived in Penang on March 27 and did not stay or conduct his programme at the hotel.

The meditation guru, 59, only had a one hour meeting with association members at the hotel on Saturday.

"The meditation guru's programme was held at Batu Kawan Stadium Saturday night attended by meditation gurus from several countries.

"No untoward incidents happened while he was here. He left on a flight for India at 3pm today (Sunday)," he added.

Meanwhile, Penang Police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi confirmed the threat and that the case was investigated under Section 507 of Penal Code.

"Soon after receiving a police report from the hotel manager, we conducted an investigation and security screening. Everything went on smoothly and the meditation guru went home today," he said yesterday.