Hussaini Tigers, VHP put a price on Dr Zakir Naik head

While a Shia agency, Hussaini Tigers, has announced Rs 15 lakhs for the head of Dr Zakir Naik, Islamic televengelist, whose preaching has attracted Muslim youth to take to terrorism far and wide, Sadhvi Prachi increased it to Rs 50 lakh. Prachi announced on Thursday that she would personally hand over the money to anyone who will behead Dr Zakir. He was on a tour of Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries. He is yet to arrive in India, and the police are said to be ready to arrest him on arrival. Dr Zakir Naik's followers in the Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai are trying to organise a press conference for him on arrival, but his return is doubtful in the circumstances. His followers are not finding a place to hold a press conference in Mumbai. Against this background the announcement of a price for his head has taken a new turn. Since the police are already alerted, while no harm may come to him, the Shias and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have put a price on his head. Meanwhile, Prachi has received threatening calls. A man who introduced himself as Shahid had threatened to kidnap the Sadhvi. In the welter of confusion, Dr Zakir may think better of it, and may postpone his return, as he is already in Saudi Arabia, where he had been feted for his religious achievements.