By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 29: The upcoming Kalachakra to be held in Bodh Gaya where the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama will oversee the proceedings will see security measures raised with the main shrine area especially under official surveillance and reinforced with additional security protocols.
Leading Indian daily Times of Indiareported that premises near the Tibetan temple have been thoroughly checked since the Tibetan leader will stay at the Mahabodhi temple during the Kalachakra in Bodh Gaya. Also BMP-3 commandant Mritunjay Kumar from the elite outfit of Indian Army has been charged with Mahabodhi Temple security.
Squashing rumours that the main shrine will be off limits to devotees, Magadh range DIG Saurav Kumar told TOI that the shrine would remain open for the masses albeit with heightened security. “Security personnel have been directed to be more vigilant and ensure that banned items, including cell phones, are not allowed inside the shrine. More rigorous search of the shrine entrants is being done and the security staffs have been directed to be firm without being impolite,” Kumar mentioned.
The Dalai Lama’s schedule and movement has also been placed under wraps to avoid any contingencies. The Tibetan leader arrived in Bodh Gaya on Wednesday before being welcomed at Jay Prakash Narayan International airport in Patna earlier in the day by CM Nitish Kumar.
Earlier today, His Holiness visited the Mahabodhi temple where he offered prayers in the main shrine of the temple.
Earlier in July 2013 a series of ten bombs exploded around the Mahabodhi Temple complex injuring five people and damaging ancient sites listed under the UNESCO World heritage sites. The incident was followed by security measures tightened at the bomb blast sites as well as the Dalai Lama temple in Dharamshala.
