Youth from Goa held for hoax call of terror attack on US President Barack Obama

PANAJI: A 19-year-old youth from Goa has been arrested for making a hoax call to Delhi Police warning them of a terror attack on US President Barack Obama.

The youth, from South Goa district, made the call to the Delhi Police control room at around 7 AM yesterday saying that he has recorded a conversation of terrorists plotting an attack on Obama during his upcoming India visit, Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said.

According to police, the youth "did it to get publicity" and was upset at not being able to take part in the Republic Day parade.

The law enforcement agencies in Delhi swung into action after getting the call and at around 12.30 PM they traced it to South Goa's Cuncolim village, 45 kms from Panaji.

The college-going youth was picked up based on the mobile phone call details by Cuncolim police. They interrogated him in the presence of senior officers who had rushed to the village from Panaji.

During interrogation, the youth "confessed that he did it to get publicity", Prabhudesai said adding that subsequently he was arrested last night.

"He said he did it to get publicity. He also wanted to participate in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, but he could not do so because of which he was disturbed," he said.

The youth would be produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class in Margao town.