Amid threat from Khalistani groups, PM Modi to visit Patna for Prakash Utsav
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi along with former PM Manmohan Singh will also be visiting Patna for the celebrations on January 4.
In Short
- PM Modi to visit Patna on January 5 to take part in Prakash Utsav.
- Massive security cover for PM's visit amid threat from Khalistani terror groups.
- Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh will be in Patna on January 4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Patna on January 5 to participate in the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singhji or Prakash Utsav. The PM's visit comes amid a heightened threat from Khalistani terror groups.
The 15-member team of Special Protection Group (SPG) - the elite security force has already reached Patna and carrying out security drill for the high profile visit.
SERIAL BOMB BLASTS WELCOMED MODI AT GANDHI MAIDAN IN 2013
The prime minister will be spending three hours in the state capital during which he will be visiting the Gandhi Maidan where the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, has been kept.
The last time Modi visited Gandhi Maidain on October 27, 2013, for Lok Sabha poll campaign, there where series of bomb explosions triggered by Indian Mujahideen terrorists. Five people were killed and over 80 injured in the blasts.
MASSIVE SECURITY DEPLOYMENT FOR MODI'S VISIT
According to details, massive security deployment has been planned with all 40 high-rise building around Gandhi Maidan having being scanned. Approximately, 1500 police personnel will be providing an elaborate security cover to the PM when he will be in Patna. Sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads have already been deployed at Gandhi Maidan. In fact, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also reviewed the arrangements at the sprawling venue.
Meanwhile, 23 police personnel have been suspended for remaining absent from duty during Prakash Utsav. They were from different districts of the state and were called in Patna for providing security during Prakash Utsav.
HEIGHTENED TERROR THREAT
What makes PM's visit even more important from security point of view is that five Khalistani terrorists had escaped from Nabha jail in Punjab last month. Out of these five men only Khalistani Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo has been arrested so far.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi along with former PM Manmohan Singh will also be visiting Patna for the celebrations on January 4.
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