CRPF, BMP take over charge of Bodh Gaya temple's security

GAYA: CRPF and Bihar Military Police (BMP) have taken over charge of the security at historic Bodh Gaya temple even as the person detained on the basis of his voter card continues to remain under NIA custody on Tuesday.

A meeting was called by Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) in which top district police and civil officials and heads of various monasteries participated to discuss better implementation of security arrangements after the serial blasts that left two monks injured.

Head of monasteries of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tibet and other nations participated in the meeting, member BTMC Arvind Singh told PTI.

He said CRPF and BMP have taken responsibility of the temple security in their hands. BTMC private security guards are assisting them inside the temple.

Visitors are allowed inside the temple only after proper frisking, he said.

During the meeting, the officials urged the monks and BTMC to cooperate with them for strict implementation of security exercise.

Meanwhile, one Binod Kumar Mistri, who has been detained by the NIA on the basis of his voter I-card found inside the temple during search after the explosions, continues to remain with the NIA.

The man who is a resident of Barachatti, a hot bed of Maoists, is engaged in wooden work. His parents Rambhajju Mistri and Matia Devi have pleaded that he is innocent.

The BTMC member said there has been no let up in the enthusiasm of the visitors to the temple, thousands of whom continue to stand in queue to go inside the temple. "There are more visitors than usual days," Singh added.