Explosion at Bodhgaya after Dalia Lama Teaching

Explosion at Bodhgaya after Dalai Lama Teaching

Explosion at Bodhgaya after Dalia Lama Teaching
Cacahuate [CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons
The bombing suspects have been identified

Bodhgaya security personnel were alerted by an explosion caused by a low-intensity bomb last week.[/tweetit] The small explosion happened after the Dalai Lama finished his teaching and went home for the night. The security at first thought the high decibel sound came from the bursting of a firecracker. A burnt thermos flask was found in the kitchen. There were no injuries. A statement by National Investigation Agency Information said that the location of the blast was opposite Kalachakra grounds. The time of the explosion was 4:45 in the evening.

Explosion at Bodhgaya after Dalai Lama Teaching[/tweetthis]

The matter became serious after police discovered two bombs each weighing 10 kilograms packed within boxes at the base of a tree close to Bodhgaya's Mahabodhi Temple. Of particular concern to law enforcement is the fact that the explosives were found inside a high-security zone. About 3,000 security personnel guard the site. This explosion reminded the local law enforcement of the July 2013 blasts when about 10 bombs exploded in succession within and around Mahabodhi Temple complex. Five people were injured by the blast. Two Buddhist monks were among those hospitalized.

Vinay Kumar, the Magadh range deputy inspector general, confirmed that two live bombs were found and assured the gathered media that experts from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have defused the bombs. NH Khan, the Patna Zone Police Inspector General, said the requisite investigation and intelligence teams are on their way to make the needed inquiries into the incident. He praised his personnel by saying that a major incident was averted due to timely bomb recovery.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has already taken a number of precautionary actions as a response to such a bomb blast. Extra security personnel have been taken from Bihar Police and Central Reserve Police. This is in addition to the already tight security which blanketed the area due to the scheduled visit by the Dalai Lama. The spiritual leader of Tibet is to reside in Bodhgaya up to the second day of February.

PK Thakur, Director General of Police in Bihar, told the media that three suspects have already been identified after going through the CCTV footage. He said that his forces are trying to extract more information so that the investigations proceed in a correct manner. The threat to the Dalai Lama is real. Taushif Sagir Khan Pathan, an operative of Indian Mujahideen, accused in 2008 serial blasts in Ahmedabad is in Gaya only 15 kilometers away.

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