Patna, Dec. 22: Police have sounded an alert in Araria in the wake of alleged Maoist threats to the lives of district magistrate Saravanan M. and superintendent of police (SP) Shivdeep Lande.

Two hand-written letters were sent to the offices of Saravanan and Lande in the past 24 hours, seeking unconditional release of the rebels lodged in Araria jail. The letters were signed by one Krishna Yadav, who identified himself as an “area commander” of the CPI(Maoist).

While Saravanan’s office received the letter this morning, the missive reached Lande yesterday. “I have sounded the alert after the letters reached our offices,” Lande said today. Sources said the letters were sent from Khagaria district, a Maoist stronghold in eastern Bihar. “The letters read that the two officials would have to face bomb attacks if the Maoists were not released from the jail,” a source said.

Saravanan said: “I have been posted in Araria for about two years now, but nothing of this sort had happened earlier. A copy of the letter has been sent to the SP for necessary action.”

A station diary has been lodged with the Araria Town police station. Security has been stepped up in and around the Araria jail and also in areas along the India-Nepal boundary.

Lande, who was transferred from Patna to Araria last month, had earlier received threat to his life from the Maoists when he was posted as an assistant superintendent of police at Jamalpur in Munger district. He said about 600 prisoners were lodged in the Araria jail, but could not confirm the number of Maoists in the prison.

Altogether 16 Naxalites were killed and their weapons snatched by a group of residents at Hiranmar diara in Munger in December 2010. This came as a major setback for the rebels in the district.

“Since then, I have been on the hit list of the Maoists,” Lande told The Telegraph over phone.

Red supporter held

Dhanara village resident Ashok Sinha, accused of collecting levy from contractors and providing medical assistance to Maoists, was arrested today from Chaminia Tola under Shyampur Bhatha police station in Sheohar district.

Sheohar superintendent of police Natash Gudia said Singh was nabbed while he was planning to collect levy on behalf of the Maoists from some contractors.