The Centre has asked all states to maintain high alert and tighten security during the festival season. The Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has asked the five poll-bound states to beef up security during election rallies, especially those being addressed by top leaders. The decision has come in the wake of Patna blasts yesterday, which left six people dead.

In a major breakthrough in the blast case, police have arrested two suspected terrorists, including one believed to be mastermind behind the incident. Several others have been detained. A senior police officer said that a search operation by NIA and Patna Police is on in Gandhi Maidan. The suspected terrorists have been identified as Tausim and Imtiyaz.

SSP Patna said that one of the accused has confessed his involvement in the blast. Currently, 37 injured persons are being treated in the hospital. Additional Director General of Police said that a day after the serial blasts, security has been tightened in the city and additional security forces were deployed at all important places including crowded markets.

Seven low intensity serial blasts rocked Patna yesterday ahead of the BJP Rally. Many political parties have condemned the incident. In a statement issued in New Delhi today, the CPIM Polit Bureau said, these cowardly attacks once again highlighted the urgent need to strengthen intelligence against terror attacks. BJP President Rajnath Singh has said, there was a security lapse at the venue of Narendra Modi’s rally in Patna, which witnessed serial blasts.