A securityman demonstrates how cylinder bombs were used to carry out the serial blasts in Bodhgaya and (below) a securityman on alert during a rath yatra procession in Bodhgaya on Wednesday. Pictures by Suman

Gaya, July 10: National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials assigned to probe the Bodhgaya serial blasts informed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde of the progress in investigation on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a process has been introduced to issue identity cards to resident monks of all the monasteries in Bodhgaya.

At the office of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) on Wednesday, the NIA officials showed a map of the blast sites to Sonia and Shinde. They also briefed the leaders of small cylinders used in the blasts.

Shinde, during interaction with reporters, had said cylinders filled with nails and splinters and attached to detonators, were used in carrying out the explosions.

After visiting the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, Sonia, Shinde and Congress leader Ambika Soni visited the BTMC office and reviewed security arrangements with senior officials, including the principal secretary of the state home department, Aamir Subhani, and the director-general of police, Abhayanand.

During the review, Gaya district magistrate-cum-BTMC chairperson Balamurugun D told the leaders about existing and would-be security arrangements on the Mahavihara campus in particular and around Bodhgaya in general.

BTMC and the International Buddhist Council would jointly issue identity cards to the resident monks and the nuns. Apart from this, monks and nuns visiting Bodhgaya for a short period would be issued identity cards by the respective monastery where they would put up. The in-charge of the monastery will send the information to the BTMC office.