Security beefed up at Mahatma Gandhi Setu after Maoists threat

Patna, Apr 5 : Security around the 5.5-kilometer long Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the bridge over the river Ganges connecting Patna with Hajipur, has been heightened in the wake of a terror threat from the Maoists to blow up the bridge.

Police has got into action after some local newspapers published the possibility of a terror attack on the bridge by the Maoists.

"The local dailies have published the news of police pickets receiving messages by Maoist organisations to blow up the bridge. We have been told to take quick measures to tighten security around the bridge. So we have beefed up security during day as well as night," said sub-inspector Shankar Prasad.

The Maoists or Naxalites as they are known locally, are allegedly fighting for the peasant rights and radical re-distribution of land. They have in the past boycotted elections besides targeting rich landowners and government offices.

The bridge was inaugurated in May 1982 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Its length is 5450 meters and it was one of the longest single river bridges in the world.

ANI