Bodhgaya: Renovation work of the Mahabodhi Temple here has come to a standstill after huge stone railings and pillars, which were being carved under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) within the temple complex, along with heavy tools used for the purpose disappeared from the site.

The incident came to light in mid-January this year, when the Dalai Lama was holding religious meetings at Bodhgaya and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was discovered near the temple, the topmost pilgrimage site for Buddhists around the globe as they aspire to visit it at least once in their lifetime. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had also visited the place after the IED was found.

The temple marks the place where Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, and is currently a high security zone after the July 2013 serial bomb blasts and for being on the target of terrorists.

Flummoxed by the vanishing act of the railings and pillars, each weighing several quintals, ASI officials started searching all over the temple complex, a Unesco world heritage site and a protected monument under the ASI, but to no avail.

Sources in the ASI told The Telegraph that several letters were written to Gaya district magistrate Abhishek Singh since January 25, bringing the entire episode to his knowledge and also pointing out that the crafted stones were meant for restoration of the inner railings of the Mahabodhi temple as the existing railings had weathered and deteriorated over time.

The Gaya DM is the ex-officio chairman of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC). The ASI requested him to investigate the entire matter urgently as it has taken up the renovation work on the request of BTMC itself.

The renovation work had started in May 2017 in the presence of BTMC secretary N. Dorjee and head monk of the temple, Bhikkhu Chalinda.

Currently, there are 150 panels or sets of inner railings. Each panel includes three horizontal bars fixed between two pillars that are topped with a "cap stone". The panels have intricate carvings that tell the story of the life of the Buddha. Some of them carry various symbols connected with Buddhism.

Terming it unfortunate, the ASI also informed the district magistrate that its renovation work was stopped by BTMC in December in view of the Kalchakra Puja, which is attended by Buddhists from all over the world. Its officials were shocked to find that the stone pieces and heavy equipment were missing when they visited the site around January 18 to resume the work.

"The ASI requested the district magistrate to help find the materials and equipment. However, despite several reminders, nothing moved till mid-February. BTMC then replied that it had shifted the stones to a vacant land near the temple," the source said.

"BTMC also revealed that the stone pillars and railings stored in the southwest corner of the Mahabodhi temple campus were cleared before the visit of chief minister Nitish Kumar there on January 17 as he was to see a project presentation there," the source said.

The vacant land happens to be the ancient site of Taradih that has revealed remains of a monastery. It is protected by the state archaeology department, and is pending excavation.

Contacted, Gaya DM Abhishek Singh told The Telegraph: "The stones were kept within the Mahabodhi campus for the last three to four years and the place was needed to be cleared for a barrack for security personnel. We shifted them under intimation to ASI to an archaeological site close by."

Singh added that the ASI sat on the renovation work for three years and caused unwanted delay. "We have written to it (ASI) to start the renovation work by June else we will get it done by any other agency."