Saturday, January 21 2006 12:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: In the wake of intelligence reports of jehadi mercenaries crossing over from Pakistan into the country and likely to target vital installations, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (Jan 21, 2006) asked the police to be alert and pay special attention in guarding them on Republic Day.

"The police establishment should be extra alert and take optimum precaution to thwart any sinister designs at the hands of militants to create disturbances on the eve of or on Republic Day", Kumar told reporters here.

Special security attention would be paid to protect vital installations, including the airport here. The chief minister also asked the people to be cautious and alert in the wake of the Intelligence Bureau inputs.

Official sources said the state home department here had received a message from the union ministry of home affairs about specific inputs from the Intelligence Bureau that jehadi mercenaries had crossed over from Pakistan and might target vital installations, including aerodromes, on Republic day.

"Normal alert has been sounded across the state in the wake of the information received from the union ministry of home affairs", state home secretary H C Sirohi told sources.

Senior police super Kundan Krishnan said security measures were being tightened around the airport and the entry of visitors into the Jaya Prakash Narayan International airport here had been banned.

The Bihar Regimental Centre, Danapur, too had issued an alert in this connection for the Republic Day. "The alert at the sub-area level is described to be a routine affair on Republic and Independence days", official sources said.