On receiving a complaint of death threats, Jhargram police have provided security to Bikram Kumar Sahu, who shot to limelight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi bought jhalmuri from his stall during the election campaign in West Bengal.

Sahu has complained to the police that he has received “repeated death threats” through text and WhatsApp messages from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

“A complaint has been filed. While all aspects of security are being examined, an investigation has also been initiated in view of the seriousness of the complaint,” a police officer involved in the probe said, adding cybercrime experts have also been roped in.

“Efforts are underway to identify the phone numbers through which the threat calls were made,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, police and CAPF personnel in uniform, as well as in plainclothes, have been deployed at the stall. CCTV cameras have also been installed.

“I was terrified after receiving repeated threats. My family members were also scared, and I had shut the shop for a few days,” Sau told mediapersons after he reopened the stall on Saturday.

According to sources, he was threatened with a gun during a video call.

While campaigning for the BJP in Jhargram, PM Modi had visited Sahu’s stall and had jhalmuri prepared by him. The video of Modi’s interaction with Sahu had gone viral, and the small roadside stall became a point of public attention in the town.