Unprecedented security for Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya
GAYA: Security in and around Bodh Gaya and that of Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama has been intensified in view of threat to the latter by Islamic terrorist groups, who had planted two powerful bombs targeting him on the Mahabodhi temple complex Friday last. The security arrangements will continue till the Noble laureate, stays in the city.
GAYA: Security in and around Bihar’s holy city Bodh Gaya and that of Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama has been intensified in view of threat to the latter by Islamic terrorist groups, who had planted two powerful bombs targeting him on the Mahabodhi temple complex Friday last.
The unprecedented security arrangements will continue till the revered Tibetan monk, who is also a Noble laureate, stays in the city. Lama, who arrived in Gaya on January 1 on a 50-day visit, had cut short his visit to 30 days early this month. He would now be returning on February 3.
Senior police officials engaged in supervising the security and investigation work said that the DSP entrusted with the task of overseeing Dalai Lama’s security has been removed after recovery of bombs. Sanjay Singh, an additional SP of Bihar police, has been called from a neighbouring district and given the charge to monitor the spiritual leader’s security.
Bachhu Singh Meena, IG (security), said 200 CCTV cameras have been installed in 1km radius of the Mahabodhi Temple complex. He said five quick response teams have been deputed to frisk and keep an eye on strangers moving in the area.
Police sources said that while Dalai Lama was the prime target, the miscreants who planted the bombs had planned mass scale destruction at the prayer site where Lama addresses thousands of Buddhist devotees.
NSG sources informed that the bombs were extremely powerful and could have killed scores of people of they had exploded during the prayer sessions. “The two bombs comprised Neo Gel-90 explosive developed for special purpose blasting in underwater and geophysical prospecting, ammonium nitrate, fluoride, timer, pressure devices and timers that are generally in possession of internal terror groups like Jaishe-Mohamad and Lashkar-eTaiba. Such explosives can break hills and crack rocky mountains,” said a senior official requesting anonymity.
Meanwhile, after a probe spanning three days, police have lodged an FIR in the bomb recovery case against five suspects found in CCTV footage moving with the explosive-laden bags and their scores of unidentified supporters who helped them in the task. “We have almost zeroed in on the suspects,” said Gaya district magistrate Abhisekh Kumar Singh.