Bombs recovered in Bodh Gaya
RED ALERT Discovery came after a third device went off on Friday
Two powerful bombs fitted with suspected IED seized near Mahabodhi temple, where Dalai Lama is holding religious sessions.
GAYA: Security forces recovered, late on Friday, two powerful live bombs fitted with suspected improvised explosive devices (IED) from near the world-heritage Mahabodhi temple in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya, where Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is holding religious sessions this month.
The discovery came after a third device went off on Friday evening, prompting a search for more such devices. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was at the site on Saturday to probe the incident. The recovery of the two bombs, weighing 10 kg each, from the high-security zone manned by more than 3,000 personnel brought back memories of the serial blasts on July 7, 2013 at the same site.
A series of 10 bombs had exploded in and around the Mahabodhi Temple complex then, injuring five people, including two Buddhists monks.
“The CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and the SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) experts are at work to defuse the bombs. We are yet to ascertain other details on the explosives found,” said deputy inspector general of Magadh range Vinay Kumar, confirming the discovery of the two live bombs.
“Other intelligence and investigation teams are arriving at Bodh Gaya to inquire into the incident. But the good thing is that police finally averted a major incident by timely recovering the bombs,” he added.
Inspector general of police, Patna Zone, NH Khan said security was tightened in Bodh Gaya.
BIHAR DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE PK THAKUR SAID THREE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BASED ON CCTV FOOTAGE
A statement by the NIA said a blast occurred opposite the Kalchakra grounds at 4.45pm on Friday. It reportedly came from a flask “kept under a generator at a tea shop/kitchen”.
“The police found some wires coming out. Later searches were conducted in the vicinity by the police and two objects, suspected to be IEDs were recovered,” the statement added. A team of the agency is on its way to the spot.
Bihar director general of police PK Thakur said three suspects have been identified.
“We have zeroed in on the suspects and trying to get more information about these people so that our investigations go on the right track,” he added.
A month before the scheduled 50-day visit of the Dalai Lama to the holy Buddhist city of Bodh Gaya that began on January 2, intelligence agencies had sounded an alert, asserting that terror groups might try to target the congregation.
Four months ago, suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Taushif Sagir Khan Pathan, the main accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts that killed 56 people, was arrested in Gaya, around 15 kilometers away.
Additional director general of police Alok Raj said the “recovery of bombs barely four months after Pathan’s arrest is a serious issue and needs a thorough probe.”