PTI

Patna, Jan 21: Patna: The Bihar police was today put on alert in view of a communique from the Union Home ministry based on intelligence reports that jehadi mercenaries crossing over from Pakistan into the country were likely to target vital installations in the state on the eve of or on Republic Day.

Official sources said the state Home department here had received a message from the Union Home Ministry 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.

"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," Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar told reporters here today.

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

"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 PTI.

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 Republic Day. "The alert at the sub-area level is described to be a routine affair on Republic and Independence days," official sources said.