Gaya, Jan. 2: Bodhgaya has been turned into a fortress for a safe and hearty Kalchakra Puja.

Heavy security greeted around 1.5 lakh devotees who have assembled in Bodhgaya for the peace prayers. Among the devotees, around 5,000 are from China. In view of the threat perception to the 14th Dalai Lama, security has been tightened further.

Around 2,200 security personnel, including Special Task Force (STF) jawans, Gorkha jawans of the Bihar Military Police-I, district armed police and baton party jawans, have been deputed for the 10-day puja. The security arrangement is in addition to the personal security of the Dalai Lama provided by the Tibetan government-in-exile.

On the second day of the Kalchakra Puja today, a prayer for world peace was organised at Kalchakra Ground, the venue of the puja.

The Dalai Lama led the prayer, which was attended by around 50,000 devotees from across the world. The prayer service was followed by an earth dance, performed by artistes from Tibet.

On security measures, Gaya City superintendent of police Satyaveer Singh said anti-terrorist squad of the STF has also been deployed. He added that an additional unit of STF has been kept in reserve to meet any eventuality.

Some of the Gorkha jawans of BMP-I have been deputed as guards where the Dalai Lama is staying.

“We have got adequate force from the police headquarters in Patna. All steps are being taken to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during the puja,” Singh said.

He added: “To keep an eye on possible troublemakers, closed-circuit television cameras have been installed at specific locations and security personnel in civil dress have been deployed in and around Bodhgaya. Patrolling has been intensified on all access roads leading to the city. Roads like Gaya-Bodhgaya, Bodhgaya-Dobhi, Gaya-Wazirganj are under special scanner.”

One section of the mounted police force and the dog squad has also been deployed in Bodhgaya, the officer said. Intelligence Bureau personnel are also present, Singh added.

Deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Imteyaz Ahmad has been made in-charge of the police control room opened in the city near the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee office.

Security personnel have been called from Patna, Bhagalpur, Nawada, Munger, Muzaffarpur and other district, sources said.