"The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has alerted Bihar government and the Special Protection Group officials camping in the state to be on high alert for a possible human bomb attack against Modi," a high-ranking police officer was quoted by the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).
The outlet quoted the unnamed officer as saying the bomber may target Modi while visiting Bihar’s capital city Patna and Muzaffarpur on Saturday "disguised as a media person, police official, electrician, an organizer, caterer or laborer."
The cited official warned that the threat could resemble the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in southeast India in May 1991, in which a female member of the now-defunct Tamil Tigers Maoist militant group detonated a bomb during Gandhi's campaign visit.
Latest media reports suggest that Indian security forces are gaining headway against the insurgents, known to concentrate in eastern and central portions of the country under cover of the dense forest.
The outlet quoted a state home department official as saying "unprecedented security cover" would accompany Modi's visit.
Patna state was the site of a series of bombings at Modi’s election rally in October 2013, killing six and injuring nearly 100 in eight blasts. No responsibility has been claimed for the attacks.
