Fake monks take money from devotees in Bodhgaya on Tuesday. Picture by Suman

Gaya, Aug. 23: From fake stamp papers and currencies to fake monks, Bihar has it all.

Fake Buddhist monks, beggars and activists of non-government organisations (NGO) could be seen ask- ing for money from the tourists visiting the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara.

Even after the tourist security force has started functioning in Bodhgaya, a lot more needs to be done to ensure the visitors coming here a pleasant stay.

Situation has turned so grim that many in the city fake as monks by wearing the sacred civara (the saffron or red cloth that Buddhist monks wear) and is found extracting money from the tourists in the name of Buddhism.

These fake monks also work as agents of NGOs in and around Bodhgaya.

Agents of several NGOs functioning around Bodhgaya could be spotted at these places with money receipts in their hands. These agents are involved in extracting money from the tourists, especially the foreigners, in the name of charity.

Following complaints that fake Buddhist monks are extracting money from the tourists on the Mahavihara campus, at least 10 fake “priests” were detained on Monday. All those detained failed to describe anything about Buddhism.

In February this year, the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) nabbed a few fake monks moving in and around the Mahavihara campus.

The monks were regular in other tourist places around Bodhgaya, including Sujatagarh, Dharmaranya, Dhungeshwari and other places.

Beggars, too, bother tourists around the Mahavihara with clichéd statements like: “No mother, no father, give us a dollar”.

Efforts in the past to free Bodhgaya of beggars have all gone in vain.

Recently, a tourist security force was constituted in Bihar. Around 16 personnel of the tourist security force have been deputed in Gaya including 10 in Bodhgaya.

The officer with the tourism department posted at the tourist information centre in Bodhgaya, Rajnarayan Mahto, said: “Efforts are being made to ensure a trouble-free stay for the tourists arriving in Bodhgaya. The tourist security force is a step forward in this direction. Out of the total 16 personnel of the security force made available in Gaya district, 10 have been deputed in Bodhgaya. However, more personnel are needed at other tourist places around Bodhgaya.”

A requisition will be sent to the state tourism department for more personnel in view of the forthcoming 17-day-long Pitripaksh mela beginning in Gaya from September 11 and the tourist season beginning in Bodhgaya from the first week of October this year.

Since the famous Kalchakra Puja led by spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists Dalai Lama is also scheduled in Bodhgaya from December 31 to January 10 next year, an additional strength of the tourist security force will be needed, Mahto added.