High alert in Bihar after surgical strikes

PATNA: After the surgical strikes that were carried out by Indian Army on terrorists launch pads across the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir, a high alert has been sounded across Bihar on Thursday.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh communicated the same to the chief minister Nitish Kumar following which security has been beefed up on the Indo Nepal border.

Bihar DGP P K Thakur said, “We are not in a position to divulge much details as several meetings are going on with the defence personnel. Bu security personnel are on high alert that no untoward incident takes place in the wake of the surgical strikes by Indian Army.”

An officer with the special branch wishing anonymity said, “Several slipper cells of terrorist groups like Indian Mujahideen, banned students’ organization SIMI became active on different occasions. They had strike on October 27, 2013 at different parts of Patna including Gandhi Maidan where then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi held Hunkar rally. In July 2013, nine bombs exploded in a terror attack at the Bodh Gaya temple premises at Bodh Gaya. The district level police are also on alert that no riot takes place over the India-Pakistan issue.”

According to inputs from special branch, a large number of believers and supporters of Afzal Guru who was convicted and hanged in connection with the

Indian Parliament

attack, are living in districts like Siwan, Sitamarhi, Bihar Sharif, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj and Darbhanga. The district magistrates and police superintendents are asked to hold meetings with local people to avoid any untoward incidents. Deployment of security personnel has been asked to step up in the districts with the deployment of additional forces at sensitive pockets. Patrolling had also been beefed up at bordering police stations.

Security of Beur prison is also on alert and security has been beefed up as at least 10 persons booked in terrorist connection are lodged there in connection with the Hunkar rally blast. Theses accused include Imtiyaz Ansari, Haidar Ali alias Black Beauty and others. The NIA investigation revealed that accused Haider Ali who was SIMI incharge of Jharkhand along with his associates conspired to target and attack on Narendra Modi. They followed ‘Sithio Module’ formed by Haider Ali.

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