Bihar on high alert ahead of R-Day

In the wake of Maoists' call to boycott Republic day celebrations, Bihar has been put on a high alert and security increased along the porous Indo-Nepal border.

In the wake of Maoists' call to boycott Republic day celebrations on Monday, Bihar has been put on a high alert and security increased along the porous Indo-Nepal border.

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"Patrolling by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and state police has been enhanced along the porous Indo-Nepal border to prevent Nepali Maoists from sneaking into the state to aid any sinister designs their comrades on this side of the border might have to disrupt Republic Day celebrations," Additional Director General (ADG), headquarters, Neelmani told PTI.

Security has been heightened at vital installations like railway stations, bus stands and airports, he said, adding all Superintendents of Police have been asked to direct officers in-charge of various police stations under them to keep an eye on movements of anti-social elements.

"There are no specific intelligence inputs about terrorists sneaking into the state or ultra-left militants planning attacks to disrupt Republic day celebrations but still the entire state has been put on maximum alert," Neelmani said.

As the railways have been a soft target for the naxalites in the past, patrolling of tracks have also been introduced to thwart any attempt by them to disrupt movement of trains.

Special attention was being given to districts like Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Nawada, Aurangabad, Muzaffarpur, East and West Champaran, which have significant presence of CPI (Maoist) rebels.

In the state capital, where the main ceremony will be held at the sprawling Gandhi maidan, police would sanitise the entire area after checking for explosives with the help of sniffer dogs.