Narendra Modi on top of IM's hit list, BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain also a target

BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain is on the hit list of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, Bihar Police officials said on Tuesday.

"Shahnawaz Hussain is on the hit list of IM after (Narendra) Modi," a police official in Patna said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is on top of the hit list of IM. At least six people were killed and nearly 100 injured in serial blasts in Patna ahead of a rally last month addressed by Modi.

Shahnawaz Hussain is a BJP spokesperson and a party MP from Bhagalpur. He has been visiting Bihar and other parts of the country regularly.

The union home ministry has informed Bihar Police about threat to Shahnawaz Hussain from IM. "The ministry had alerted Patna police," the official said.

Last month, the ministry sent a fax letter to Patna police, warning about an attempt to target Shahnawaz Hussain by the IM.

"After the union ministry's alert, Bihar Police and intelligence agencies have been taking it seriously and have decided to take no chance," a police official said.

According to police officials in Patna, IM along with another terror organisation, in its secret meeting held in Nepal, decided to target some top BJP leaders, including Shahnawaz Hussain, who hails from Bihar.

Last week, the intelligence wing of Bihar Police alerted about the threat of Maoist attack on senior BJP leaders.

Patna Zonal Inspector General of Police Sushil Man Singh Khopde said that superintendents of police of all Maoist affected districts have been asked to provide special security to leaders on the hit list of Maoists.

In the last two months, Maoists have killed nearly two dozen people, including 10 policemen in the state.