Security heightened for Amit Shah's Patna rally after IB alert

After an Intelligence Bureau alert was sounded ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah’s rally in Patna on Tuesday, state police have stepped up security, police said.

Around 3,000 security personnel have been deployed at the rally site with 20 CCTVs cameras and other high tech gadgets to keep close watch on suspected activities.

Amit Shah is set to launch party’s poll campaign at the rally for the next Bihar assembly polls later this year.

“With the IB issuing an alert ahead of Amit Shah’s rally, state police are taking all possible measures to avoid any untoward incident,” an IG rank police official said.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said that full proof security was made for Amit Shah’s rally in Gandhi Maidan.

“Police will not take any chance for security in view of high threat perception,” he said.

According to police officials, hundreds of security forces have been deployed at the site to keep close watch, metal detectors, bomb squads and watchdogs have been put in place for securing the area.

“Amit Shah would be accompanied by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and party general secretary and in charge of Bihar affairs Bhupender Yadav,” BJP state president Mangal Pandey said at a press meet on Monday.

Six Union ministers who hail from the state would also be participating in the rally.

Serial bomb blasts shook the Gandhi Maidan in 2013 during then BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally.

Six people were killed and nearly 100 injured then.

The National Investigation Agency has held the Indian Mujahideen responsible for the blasts.