Thaindian News

Patna, Nov 13 (IANS) Security was stepped up at Bihar’s Jehanabad district Friday following intelligence reports that Maoist rebels may be planning a repeat of their audacious 2005 attack on the district jail, officials said.
On Nov 13, 2005 a Maoist contingent attacked Jehanabad jail, facilitating the escape of about 300 inmates, including 150 Maoists.

“All important government buildings, police stations, the jail and railway stations have been put on high alert after apprehension that Maoists may seek to repeat the infamous Jehanabad jailbreak,” a police official in Jehanabad, about 50 km from here, said.

Dozens of Maoists, including their self-styled commanders, zonal commanders and area commanders, are lodged in the district jail.

Sources in the state home department told IANS that the government was not taking any chance following the seizure of a huge amount of explosives and chemicals, suspected to be meant for Maoists, in the last one week.

Police seized 5,000 kg of high grade explosive material in Gaya district Thursday and police suspect that over 100 bags of explosive were kept for immediate use by Maoists. Earlier 900 kg of explosives - 600 kg on Sunday and 300 kg on Saturday - as well as 18 bags of explosives powder on Sunday were seized from a house on the Bhootnath Road in the state capital.

Besides, 300 bottles of chemicals for preparing IEDs, 7,221 live cartridges, 50 detonators, parts for making carbines and Maoist literature were also seized.

Police are still in the dark as to why such a big consignment was brought to Patna. “Was it meant for attacking police stations or repeating the Jehanabad jailbreak by attacking the central Beur Jail here,” a police official wondered.