Police Arrest Youth in Gaya on Making Terroristic Threats

Patna: Oct. 4, 2008

Police in Gaya district arrested a 23-year youth for sending text messages to the state police threatening to blow up the historical Vishnupad Temple in Gaya, officials in Patna said on Saturday.

Gaya police chief Malar Vizi, during a press conference, said the police had arrested Sanjay Singh, the son of Shankar Singh, a Bihar police constable, living in police quarters under Rampur police station.

The text messages were sent to Pravin Vashisht, DIG Magadh Range, and Sanjay Kumar, the Gaya District Magistrate, Vizi said.

"We traced the messages to Sanjay Singh's cell phone and took him into custody. He is currently being questioned by the authorities who are interested in knowing if he has ties with other terrorist outfits in the country," the police chief said.

Vishnupad Temple in Gaya is known for its two-week long 'Pitripaksh' season when millions of Hindus gather there to offer 'pind daan' to their ancestors in the hope of seeking salvation for them.

Security has been heightened in and around the temple to prevent any untoward incident from taking place, the police said.

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