Security tightened at Mahabodhi temple following terror threat

As part of measures, a platoon of the STF was deployed at the Mahabodhi temple on permanent basis, DIG (Magadh range) N Hasnain Khan told PTI.

The Bodh Gaya temple management committee (BTMC) and the district police have also arranged security measures in and around the Mahabodhi temple.

The measures were taken following threat by Indian Mujahideen militants to attack the Buddhist shrine, he said.

The measures include installation of CCTV cameras in and around the temple, round-the-clock patrolling by the police on Gaya-Dobhi and Gaya-Falgu roads and deployment of women police at the temple for frisking women pilgrims, official sources said.

The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the 84,000 shrines erected by King Asoka the Great in the 3rd century B.C.

The decision for additional security measures at the temple was taken at a recent meeting of the BTMC and the district authorities.

Various Buddhist monasteries too will be brought under monitoring by CCTV cameras, they said.

A control room will be set up at the Bodh Gaya police station located adjacent to the Mahabodhi temple to monitor activities and movement of people under the coverage area, the sources said.