Two bombs were found from the Bodh Gaya pilgrimage centre near here tonight following a small explosion-like sound amid stringent security measures in view of the Dalai Lama's stay, a top police official said.
Two IEDs were found from near the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya on Friday evening following a small explosion-like sound amid stringent security measures in view of the Dalai Lama's stay, a top police official said.
The bombs were found from the vicinity of the Kalachakra ground during an intensive combing operation by a police team led by DIG (Patna Range) Vinay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patna Zone, N H Khan said.
The Tibetan spiritual leader has been holding discourses at the ground, he said.
The IGP said that the operations were carried out after a small explosion took place at a kitchen set up at the Kaalchintan ground, causing panic among the devotees who had gathered to hear the Dalai Lama's discourse.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it received information that "a blast has taken place opposite the Kalchakra ground at 4.45 pm on 19.01.2018 in Bodh Gaya."
"It is said that the blast happened in a flask kept under a generator at a tea shop/kitchen opposite the ground. The police found some wires coming out," the NIA said in a statement.
"Later searches were conducted in the vicinity by police and two objects, suspected to be IEDs were recovered. On receipt of this preliminary information, a team of NIA officials including one SP and one explosives' expert has been dispatched on 20.01.2018 to visit the site," the agency said.
The explosion had taken place shortly after the Dalai Lama had completed his discourse and retired for the day at the Tibetan monastery, he said.
During the operations, a burst thermos flask was found at the kitchen. This might have caused the sound, the IGP said.
Meanwhile, a team of forensic experts was dispatched to the site of the incident from Patna to ascertain the nature of the explosives found, he said.
The Tibetan spiritual leader had arrived in Bodh Gaya on January 1 and he is likely to stay there for a month.
A host of VIPs, including Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Hollywood actor Richard Gere have visited Bodh Gaya recently to receive blessings from the Buddhist monk.
Significantly, in 2013, the Mahabodhi temple, situated on the spot where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, was rocked by a series of explosions in which five people, including two monks were injured.
(With PTI inputs)
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