Patna: Recovery of two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from Bodhgaya sent senior police officers of Gaya district into a tizzy.

Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Garima Malik launched an intensive vehicle-checking drive and frisking of visitors to the Buddhist shrine, a day after the seizure of two live bombs from outside the temple premises.

Vehicles proceeding towards Bodhgaya were stopped about 500m away and searched on Saturday. "Even pedestrians walking towards the temple are being frisked," said a visibly upset tourist from Jharkhand.

The entire Bodhgaya town was virtually turned into a fortress after the incident. Visitors were subject to another round of security check near the main entrance of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. A three-layer security blanket is in place on the temple premises.

Sources in the police headquarters said all police stations in Gaya districts, especially in and around Bodhgaya, have been put on maximum alert. Additional police officers and constables have been deployed in Bodhgaya from Jehanabad and Aurangabad districts.

Inspector-general (Patna zone) Nayyar Hasnain Khan, who is camping in Gaya, said the security around the temple has been intensified. "Necessary instructions have been issued to police officers to ensure foolproof security to devotees," he told The Telegraph.

Officials of the Gaya district administration and the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee held a meeting with representatives of different monasteries to assess the security arrangements in the presence of Gaya district magistrate Abhishek Singh and SSP Garima Malik.

Later, the DM told reporters in Gaya that there was no security breach. "Alert district police and civil administration officials foiled an attempt to disturb the ongoing puja," he said.

Abhishek, who assumed charge early this month, also denied any explosion. However, sleuths of intelligence agencies confirmed the blast. Local residents corroborated that the explosion took place around 4.45pm.