Security tightened around Madurai Adheenam

Security was tightened around the about 1500-year-old Saivaite Mutt Madurai Adheenam here, which was in the midst of controversy over the appointment of self styled godman Nithyananda as junior pontiff, following receipt of a bomb threat letter, police said today.

Police said the letter, written in Tamil, was received by the mutt authorities yesteray and it threatened that a bomb would go off inside the mutt on June 27.

The mutt authorites handed over the letter, signed by one Parisutham, to the police today.

Already police protection was given to the mutt in the wake of strong protests from various Hindu and Saivite outfits over the appointment of Nithyananda as the junior pontiff in April.