The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released two sketches of a suspect, allegedly involved in serial bomb blasts at Bodh Gaya on July 7.
In all 10 bombs had exploded inside and outside Mahabodhi Temple premises at Bodh Gaya leaving two monks injured in the incident. Sources said that sketches were prepared on basis of CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts. In one of the sketches, the suspect is wearing a mask while another is bare face. Witnesses include two foreign nationals, one from Sri lanka while another from Thailand. The third witness is a native of Gaya, sources added.
The suspect in monk attire has been captured in one of the CCTV cameras, shown as moving around in the temple from 3.30 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. on the date of the incident. Four bombs had exploded inside the Mahabodhi temple premises while rest six at different places at Bodh Gaya. Three lives bombs were also recovered during the search operation.
Meanwhile, Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile lobsang Sangay visited the Mahabodhi Temple on Tuesday. later, he undertook a visit to all the sites where the bomb blasts had taken place. He prayed for peace and calm at the Mahabodhi Temple and also donated Rs one lakh to the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) on the occasion.
Expressing sadness over terror strike, Sangay said, “It was highly unimaginable that a place as sacred as Bodh Gaya, where lord Buddha achieved enlightenment could be attacked in such a violent manner’. He told newspersons at Bodh Gaya that the Tibetan Government in exile is thankful to the Centre as well as Bihar Government for the security provided at the Mahabodhi Temple.
He expressed his full faith in the ongoing investigation of the serial blasts, being conducted by NIA. He also exhorted all Budhists around the world to continue making pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya and not get intimated with such cowardly acts. later, he also visited the two injured people at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). One of the injured is a Tibetan monk from Nyingma Monastery while the other monk is from Myanmar.