Foreign tourists play cards at a restaurant in Bodhgaya on Sunday. Picture by Suman

Gaya, July 31: The wait is over. Tourist police force would make its debut in Gaya and Bodhgaya in a couple of days.

Sources said the state tourism department would initially induct 16 personnel of a private security agency in the tourist police force on contract to ensure safety of the visitors. They would keep tabs on the tourist spots in Gaya and Bodhgaya and would come to the rescue of tourists whenever they are in trouble.

The state government had proposed to raise such a force after a Japanese tourist was gangraped by an autorickshaw driver and his associates in April last year.

A Bihar tourism department official, Rajnarayan Mahto, told The Telegraph: “In the first phase, 16 security personnel have been engaged on contract from Patna-based Cobra Industries Security Force. The security personnel — 10 for Bodhgaya and six for Gaya — will have identity cards and an uniform, as decided by the tourism department. They will work in co-ordination with the local police force.”

At Bodhgaya, the security personnel would be deputed at important tourist spots. The personnel can also assist Buddhist monasteries, hotels and tour operators in escorting Indian and foreign tourists to their destinations and back.

Mahto said a request for deploying four additional security personnel at Dhungeshwari, an important tourist spot situated on the east of river Falgu, would be made. The world heritage site, Mahabodhi Mahavihara, and other Buddhist monasteries of different countries are situated on the western side of Falgu.

Of the six personnel assigned for Gaya, four would be deputed at Vishnupad Temple. Lakhs of pilgrims from different parts of the country and abroad visit the shrine throughout the year.

There is a huge rush at the temple during the 17-day-long pitripaksha, which normally falls in September every year.

The remaining two personnel would be deployed at Mangala Gauri temple, known as Shaktipeeth. It is on the southern fringes of Gaya.

According to sources, more security personnel would be inducted into the tourist police force.

A large number of personnel would have to be pressed into service during the 11-day-long Kalchakra Puja. Spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists the Dalai Lama is scheduled to be at Bodhgaya between December 31 this year and January 10, 2012. A large gathering of devotees is expected during the period at Bodhgaya.

Ever since the Mahabodhi Mahavihara has been included in the world heritage list by Unesco in 2002, tourist inflow at Bodhgaya has increased.

There are also plans to set up at least four tourism police stations in the state. They would come up at Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Patna.