Nagpur: Security was beefed up at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur today (Dec 14, 2004) in view of alleged naxal threat to blow up the building, while Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil told the State Assembly that the threatening letter, purportedly sent by a naxal outfit People's Guerrilla Army (PGA), was fake.

Making a statement in the lower House as per the direction of Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar, Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, said on examination, that the letter was found to be fake and not sent by any naxal group.

He said that the superintendent of police from naxal infested Gadchiroli district has also clarified that the letter was not genuine.

On further probe, the letter, sent to two local Marathi dailies, were found to have been posted from Patwardhan ground post office in Dhantoli area in west city area, he said.

A non-cognisable offence under relevant section of IPC have been registered against the anonymous sender of the letter, Patil said adding that police have also launched a manhunt for the culprit.

Meanwhile, several precautionary measures were initiated and a thick security blanket has been thrown around the Vidhan Bhavan.

Two local Marathi dailies had received the letters purportedly sent by PGA, threatening to blow up Vidhan Bhawan today (December 14, 2004) at 2 pm, and the letters had appeared in the dailies on December 8 and 9 respectively.