July 11: The Mahabodhi Mahavira has banned entry into the premises with electronic gadgets even as chief minister iterated his demand for central security cordon there.
After the Mahavihara re-opened for visitors on the evening on July 8, visitors were asked to switch off their cell phones and, now, they will also have to deposit electronic gadgets at a cloakroom. The rules are less stringent for foreign devotees, who can take in a camera, but with the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee’s (BTMC) nod.
The BTMC has also begun the process of installing 16 additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. These are in addition to the 16 existing ones — 10 in the Mahavihara premises, three in the BTMC library, two on the red pedestal and one outside the BTMC office.
An office has come up at the Mahavihara’s reception where a television screen has been installed to monitor footage from existing CCTV cameras. Earlier, the television screen was installed in the office of the BTMC secretary.
The BTMC has reportedly deputed three persons, who will do eight-hour shifts each, to monitor the cameras. Existing CCTV cameras were installed in 2008 from the Rs 3-crore funds provided by the tourism ministry for lighting and CCTV camera installation. They began functioning in a full-fledged manner from 2009.
A day after Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde rejected chief minister Nitish Kumar’s express proposal for deployment of CISF at the monument the latter iterated his demand. “There are many religious places. But Mahabohi temple in Bodhgaya is different from others. It attracts Buddhist devotees from around the world. I appeal to the Centre to make a special security arrangement at the Bodhgaya temple,” Nitish said.
Nitish, however, expressed confidence in the National Investigating Agency (NIA). “The NIA has dexterity in investigating such incidents. The state government is ready to extend all cooperation to the NIA in carrying out proper investigation of the blasts,” he said.
Admitting that the BTMC had deployed a private security agency to man security inside the shrine while the police force was deployed to guard the temple, he said: “The NIA will find out where the lapses happened and who was responsible.”
The Patna district administration has said it was ready to train officials of different religious places on frisking and security.
Patna district magistrate N. Saravana Kumar also asked religious institutions to ensure police verification of their staff. “Three days ago, we called a meeting of senior officials, including heads of religious institutes, in the wake of the Bodhygaya serial blasts, and decided that the district administration will provide training to the authorities of different religious places. The training will focus on frisking and security,” Kumar said on the sidelines of his weekly janata durbar.
He added: “At present, the administration does not have enough funds to purchase equipment like door-frame metal detector and CCTV cameras. So I will request the religious management to purchase the same and we will provide police personnel. The cameras should be made compulsory inside and outside the religious premises along with cloak room so that visitors cannot carry anything inside.”
Kumar also said that the same order applies to all malls and private schools. “I have also asked station house officers (SHO) in their respective areas to ensure installation of CCTV cameras in malls and private schools. The cameras should be installed at places where movement of visitors can be seen clearly.”
To avoid chances of staff playing any role in such incidents, the district administration asked all religious bodies to undertake police verification of their staff.
The chairman of Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts, Acharya Kishore Kunal, has little faith in the steps taken up by the district magistrate.
“Such steps may give some satisfaction to the common man who visits temples regularly, but as far as anti-terrorist measures are concerned, I don’t think it would be effective. If terrorists wants to attack a religious site, they will do it. The administration has become active after the blast. What were they doing earlier,” Kunal asked.
He further said: “So far as training is concerned, I do not know how helpful it would be and how long their men will stay at religious places. Yes, the one direction regarding police verification should be welcomed. I have already sent the names of our staff to the respective districts. I hope, the concern police station will send me character details of the temple staff.”
