New Delhi/patna/gaya: Four years after the terror attack on Mahabodhi temple, the central government is planning to provide armed security cover of trained paramilitary commandos to this World Heritage Site of UNESCO in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. Two Buddhist monks were injured in the serial blasts that took place in and around Bodh Gaya temple on July 7, 2013. After this, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had demanded an armed security cover for the temple complex and its surrounding temples, 115 kilometers away from the state capital Patna.
Officials said after the high level talks of several rounds, the Union Home Ministry has decided to sanction the security of the CISF to the temple premises. There will be more meetings to finalize the plan. He said that the basis for providing armed security has been analyzed and the security mechanism believes that the world’s renowned temple needs to be provided security cover due to being a World Heritage Site. Every year there are millions of domestic and international tourists and followers.
A senior official said, “The final approval for providing security cover to the temple premises can be obtained from the home ministry at the end of this month. About 150 to 200 commandos and jawans have been proposed in the security audit of CISF, which will be necessary for the safety of this complex. “The officials said that after the deployment of CISF, the temple trust carries an estimated cost of 20 crores rupees per year. The Bihar government can provide this amount in consultation with the Center.
