Two hurt as blasts hit Bodh Gaya

Security personnel inspect the site of an explosion inside the Mahabodhi temple complex at Bodh Gaya.IANS/Bodh GayaNine near-coordinated explosions shook the serenity of the world-renowned Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya early yesterday, injuring two monks but not causing much damage. The government termed it a terror attack as an NIA (National Investigation Agency) team began its probe. President Pranab Mukherjee described the serial blasts as a “senseless act of violence” while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said “such attacks on religious places will never be tolerated”. The union home ministry also sent an advisory to states asking them to step up security in the wake of the blasts at the Unesco World Heritage site, while security of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was also reviewed.Nine blasts took place between 5.30am and 6am at the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple, annually visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world, especially from Sri Lanka, China, Japan and the southeast Asia region.The deafening explosions triggered panic, but caused no major damage. The impact of the explosions rattled the nearby hotels, sending the tourists and pilgrims running outdoors in panic.“All the people, foreigners and tourists, came out wondering what had happened,” said a local resident.Bodh Gaya is about 110km from Patna. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, in New Delhi, said four of the nine bombs went off in the temple complex, three in a monastery nearby, one near the statue of the Buddha, and another near a tourist bus. Bihar Police chief Abhayanand, who went to the site during the day, said the blasts were not of “very high intensity” and, therefore, no damage was caused to the sanctum sanctorum.Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami also confirmed that the temple complex had not suffered any damage. “The monastery and the statue of Lord Buddha are safe.”Additional director general of police S K Bhardwaj said two Buddhist monks were injured - Tibetan Tenzing Dorjee, 50, and the other, a Myanmarese national named Vilas Ga, 30.Union Minister of State for Home R P N Singh termed it a terror attack, while strategic analyst C Uday Bhaskar said there is “little doubt that as per the classical evaluation of terror attacks - the multiple blasts at Bodh Gaya will qualify as a definitive terror attack”. A NIA team reached Bodh Gaya in the evening even as some Buddhist monks offered prayers at the temple.“Only Buddhist monks were allowed in to offer prayers as usual. The government has decided not to discontinue the regular prayers and worship by monks in the temple,” said Abhayanand. He said the temple would open for pilgrims and tourists today morning. A team of Delhi Police is likely to visit Bodh Gaya to share information provided by arrested Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists on the temple attack.Meanwhile security of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been reviewed. “The Dalai Lama has already been provided Z-plus category security (by the Indian government). However, we have beefed up the security of his official palace and Tsuglagkhang temple (close to the palace) too,” an official at Dalai Lama’s private office said. The official said a meeting would be held at Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, today to review security arrangements of Tibetan monasteries and temples located across India. Tibetan spiritual leaders the Dalai Lama and 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who are residing in Dharamsala’s suburb McLeodganj, which is home to a large Tibetan population, are frequent visitors at the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya town.