Letter warns of bomb attack on Shirdi Saibaba temple

The trust managing the Saibaba Temple here has claimed to have received a letter warning of a bomb blast at the popular shrine on January 1. Shri Saibaba Sansthan trust deputy executive officer Yashwant Mane confirmed receiving the letter, which bears the names of three persons, and said it was handed over to the police on Thursday.

The letter in Marathi has been signed by Ankush Bhuse, Bhaskar Kadam and Balu Lahudkar. It has the stamp of a post office in Buldhana district, central Maharashtra, Shirdi police station in-charge Datta Pawar said.

In the letter received on Wednesday, the trio has claimed they are getting Rs350 crore for carrying out the blast, he said.

Security around the temple is being stepped up ahead of the Christmas and New Year, when lakhs of devotees are likely to pour into Shirdi, Western Maharashtra, police said. The letter has been sent to local crime branch for further investigation, deputy superintendent of police Vivek Patil said.

Meanwhile, the Sansthan held a meeting of its office- bearers and asked them to be alert.