One held for blast threat in Modi's rally

The Patna Police have arrested a man, identified as Udayan Rai, for sending a message to a WhatsApp group threatening a bomb blast during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed rally here in the state capital on March 3.

The NDA has organised its show of strength called 'Sankalp rally' at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday, where Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will address a political rally together for the first time.

With this event, Modi is likely to sound the poll bugle in Bihar for the ensuing parliamentary polls.

The man, Udayan Rai, a self-proclaimed social worker, was arrested from his residence in Dariyapur for posting a message on WhatsApp that bomb blasts would take place during Modi’s rally on Sunday.

"One person in the WhatsApp group informed the police about the message which soon went viral," said a police source here.

After the arrest, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials interrogated Rai, following which he was produced before the local court. The judge on Wednesday sent him to jail for 14 days.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in view of Modi's proposed Sankalp rally. In October 2013, six persons were killed while 83 others were injured when seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) exploded in serial blasts just ahead of Modi’s address.

Incidentally, Modi addressed the rally in 2013 at Gandhi Maidan, where he will address the upcoming rally on March 3.