Terror threat to Patna's famous Mahavir temple

Security of Patna’s famous Mahavir temple was beefed up on Friday following a terror threat, police officials said.

“We have tightened security of the Mahavir mandir near Patna junction after a telephone call from Assam to target it,” Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said.

Maharaj, who was directed by the police headquarters to probe into the call, said, “Taking the threat seriously, security was beefed up in and around the temple, additional police force including anti-sabotage team was deployed and to keep a close vigil on any suspect CCTV cameras and metal detectors were installed.”

According to a senior police official, a central intelligence agency in June last tipped-off about a threat to the temple.  After serial bomb explosions at Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi temple on July 7, the temple’s security was revamped.

Image: Mahavir Temple in Patna

Photograph: kumarabhijeet21/Flickr