NEW DELHI, May 27: Indian police are investigating a letter written by Maoist rebels threatening to kill cricketers Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Dhoni, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

In the letter, the left-wing rebels from the eastern state of Jharkhand and neighbouring Chhattisgarh also decided to kill top cricket officials Sharad Pawar, Niranjan Shah and Rajiv Shukla, according to the Hindustan Times.

“All five are promoting cricket – a sport of the elite class – and also leading a luxurious life at the expense of the hard-earned money of the common man,” the newspaper quoted the letter as saying.

Pawar is president of the Indian cricket board and federal minister for agriculture.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda said the letter was being taken seriously and Dhoni's security would be reviewed if necessary.

“But before providing more security to Dhoni, the government would like its agencies to find out whether the letter is genuine,” he said.Wicket-keeper-batsman Dhoni, who hails from Jharkhand, and skipper Dravid are currently on tour of Bangladesh.The paper said the handwritten letter, suspected to be an internal communication, was found during a raid on a rebel hideout in Dantewada region in Chhattisgarh on Friday.—AFP