Bodh Gaya bombings

Bodh Gaya bombings

Bodhi Tree near the Mahabodhi Temple.
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Location of Bodh Gaya in Bihar.
Location Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya
Date 7 July 2013
05:30–06:00 (IST)
Attack type
 Bombing
Weapons Improvised explosive device[1] and cylinder bombs
Non-fatal injuries
 5
Suspected perpetrators
 Indian Mujahideen[1]

On 7 July 2013 a series of ten bombs exploded in and around the Mahabodhi Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bodh Gaya, India. Five people, including two Buddhist monks, were injured by the blasts. Three other devices were defused by bomb-disposal squads at a number of locations in Gaya.[2][3][4]

The temple itself and the Bodhi Tree (where Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment) were undamaged.[5] However, the Archaeological Survey of India confirmed damage to new structures in the temple complex.[6] International figures, including the Dalai Lama, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Myanmar Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, condemned the attacks.[7] On 4 November 2013, the National Investigation Agency announced that the Indian Mujahideen was responsible for the bombings.[8][9]

Bombings

The Mahabodhi Mahavihara is an important temple for Buddhists worldwide.[10] The bombs exploded between 05:30 and 06:00 IST (00:30–01:00 UTC), concurrently with the Sutta chanting and meditation which begin the daily routine of the mahavihara.[11][12][13]

Four of the blasts occurred within the Mahabodhi Temple complex:[12]

Five other blasts occurred in Bodh Gaya, within a 500-metre radius of the Mahabodhi Temple complex:[12][14]

Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on 8 July that there were ten blasts, not nine as earlier reported;[17] it was unclear where the tenth bomb detonated.[3][17][18] Despite the blasts, BTMC monks opened the main sanctuary of the temple for routine prayer and rituals.[12]

Bomb-disposal squads defused three more bombs,[4] which did not explode because the analog timers in them failed. The bomb-detection team separated the detonator from the power source to defuse these bombs:[19]

Three pamphlets, handwritten in Urdu, were reportedly found with the defused bombs. Code words in two of the pamphlets seemed to describe the locations where the bombs would be planted, while the third pamphlet included the phrase "Revenge for Iraq".[20][21]

Investigation

On 8 July the Bihar Police released CCTV footage of the blast sites at the Mahabodhi Temple and, based on an analysis of the footage, sketches of the suspected attackers. Sahidur and Saifur Rehman, brothers from Scotland and Saudi Arabia respectively, were identified from the sketches; both are alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives.[22] Another man, Vinod Mistri, was also arrested since his identity card was found at the blast site. However, Mistri claimed to have lost his card days before the blasts.[17][23] National Investigation Agency (NIA) released Mistri on 10 July for lack of evidence after taking his statement.[24] An alleged IM tweet claimed responsibility for the Bodh Gaya bombings on the day of the blasts, warning that Mumbai would be the next target. The IP address was traced to Pakistan, and NIA investigated the claim.[25]

On 16 July, NIA released the sketches and a video clip of a suspect in the bombings. According to the agency, the suspect (in Bhikkhu clothing) planted four bombs in the Mahabodhi complex.[26][27] Witnesses noticed that the suspect performed Parikrama incorrectly. NIA reported that the suspected bomber intended to blow up the main statue of the Buddha, but did not enter the sanctuary because prayers had already begun.[28]

Investigators discovered that the 13 Lotus timers used in the bombings were bought at a shop in Guwahati.[29] They also ascertained that the clocks attached to the unexploded bombs were manufactured at a factory in Rajkot, Gujarat. The cylinders attached to the bombs were obtained in Bihar, so NIA suspected local involvement.[30]

Investigators also confirmed that the bombs used in Patna and Bodh Gaya were nearly identical;[31] one of the many similarities investigated was in the way the bombs were planted.[8][32] On 4 November 2013 NIA raided a lodge in Ranchi, finding evidence of a plot to bomb pilgrimage sites. The evidence included a map of planned bombings and the coded names of the terrorists. An NIA agent confirmed that "the charts they recovered matched precisely".[9]

The evidence confirmed that the Ranchi cell of the IM was responsible for the blasts.[8] According to reports, Imtiaz Ansari placed a bomb near the Thai Monastery and Ainul (a.k.a. Tariq) placed one at the Tergar Monastery. Mujib placed bombs at four locations in Bodh Gaya.[8] The six-person attacking squad allegedly worked in pairs, and was assigned to place three bombs each.[33] NIA named the five bomb planters, who planned the attack over a year ago: Hyder Ali, Imtiaz Ansari, Tariq (a.k.a. Ainul) and Taufeeq and Mujibal Ansari. The agency suspects that Ali masterminded the plot with guidance from Tehseen Akhtar, a Ranchi-based IM operative.[34] Investigators suspect that Riyaz Bhatkal, a Pakistani IM leader, commanded the attack.[35]

Alleged warnings

Some members of the media blamed the Bihar Police, saying the blasts resulted from a lack of security at the management and operational levels.[16] The metal detectors at the Mahabodhi Temple were not calibrated to detect bombs,[16] and there were only four guards on duty when the blasts occurred.[36] A security expert said, "The decision to let the Bodh Gaya Management Committee man security inside the premises is preposterous and immature".[16] Questioned by NIA in the US in June 2010 about the 2008 Mumbai attacks, David Headley claimed that Lashkar-e-Taiba prepared a video on the Mahabodhi Temple and was planning to trigger blasts there.[20] The IM, responsible for the 2012 Pune bombings, revealed plans to attack the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya in October 2012.[16][37] In April 2013 the NIA issued a list of alleged IM operatives, including Gaya-born Amir Reza Khan (alias Parvez, alias Rizwan, alias Muttaki), a resident of the village of Maheyan in Mohanpur, Gaya who was the sixth wanted member of the list.[16]

Reza, perpetrator of the Bangalore and Pune blasts, is suspected to have provided reconnaissance on the Mahabodhi Temple site. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) issued several warnings, one in 2012 and two in 2013.[16] The Bihar Police were alerted in June 2013 about the targets by the IB,[38] and on 2 July the IB alerted them about the entry of two suspects into Gaya.[16] The Ministry of Home Affairs warned on 3 July that the temple was a target.[38] The warnings caused a Bihar Police meeting the same day about security at the Mahabodhi Temple, but the blasts occurred within 100 hours.[16] The treasurer of All India Bhiku Sangha, Pragya Deep, said: "The administration had prior information. There was a report of the IB. A series of security review meetings have been conducted. There have been at least five to six meetings. It’s shameful that despite this, the blasts have taken place. This is a mistake on the part of the administration".[39] After the blast, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar said: "The government had always been on the alert and taken steps to ensure the security of the Mahabodhi temple and Bodh Gaya in general".[40] A senior official of the IB said, "The Bodh Gaya temple was a long standing target and we had been reminding the Bihar state agencies about it. But our warnings were not taken seriously".[38]

Perpetrators

As of 9 July 2013 no group had yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, and there was considerable media speculation about who might be to blame. The possibility was raised that the blasts might have been revenge attacks by Pakistan-based groups in response to the persecution of Muslim minorities in Myanmar by Buddhists.[22][41] Similar Muslim-Buddhist tensions in Sri Lanka and Thailand were also raised as possible motives for the bombings.[42] A Myanmar-based Al-Qaeda affiliate, Jamatal Tahawid Jihad, was mentioned as a possible culprit (although the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs ruled that out).[22] The IM was also mentioned in connection with the blasts: an IM operative, Sayeed Maqbool, reportedly confessed during interrogation by the Delhi Police that he carried out the attacks.[22] Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D. M. Jayaratne speculated that it might have been perpetrated by supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[43] The Bihar Police suspected Maoist connections to the bombings, but the Maoists denied their involvement.[44]

Reactions

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee called the blasts a "senseless act of violence targeting innocent pilgrims and monks who had gathered to worship at this temple dedicated to the great apostle of peace—Gautama Buddha".[45] Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh condemned the incident, saying that India's "composite culture and traditions teach us respect for all religions and such attacks on religious places will never be tolerated".[46][47] A national organisation of Buddhist monks, the All India Bhiku Sangha, also reacted to the attacks. Its chairperson, Bhante Sadanand Mahasthaver, said: "Buddhist monks all over the country feel saddened by the attack. The international community is also shaken. We try to put people on the right path and we have been made the target of an attack. The All India Bhiku Sangha condemns this attack. This should not have happened. We spread the message of peace across the world. This is an attempt to spread terror and create discord among the messengers of peace".[48] The Rajya Sabha condemned the attacks on Mahabodhi Temple; Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari described the attacks as "senseless act of violence" and "a cause of anguish and deep concern to all".[49] The Government of Bihar proposed to establish an Anti Terrorist Squad unit in the state after the bombings.[50]

The 14th Dalai Lama called the attack "unfortunate". Lobsang Sangay, Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said: "I am deeply saddened to learn about the series of bomb blasts at Mahabodhi Temple. My prayers [are] for the injured and their family members".[18] Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje said he was "saddened to hear of the senseless violence" and asked Buddhists "to remain calm and refrain from any further escalation of the violence".[51] Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje said he was "deeply saddened to hear of the bomb attacks", and prayed "that we are all able to respond with compassion to all those affected by this tragic event".[52]

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was shocked by the news of the explosions: "[i]t is with deep sadness that I condemn the explosions within the hallowed precincts of the most venerated and sacred Bodh Gaya shrine in Bihar in India. Undoubtedly, it is one of the holiest shrines highly respected and venerated not only by Buddhists throughout the world, but by all peace-loving human beings".[53]

Burmese government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi expressed her unhappiness over the blasts.[7]

The Government of Thailand was "deeply disturbed by the bomb explosions", voicing security concerns.[54]

Delegates from a number of Buddhist traditions at the Eighth Global Conference on Buddhism in Singapore passed a resolution on the bombings:

"We are deeply saddened, but we forgive those responsible for bombing the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya. You may damage the most important temple in Buddhism but you will not destroy our faith in forgiveness and compassion".[55]

The Northeast Indian Bhikkhu Sangha and Buddhists submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India: "It is indeed a sad incident that miscreants tried to cause damage to one of the holiest Buddhist shrines which is not only the place of Buddha’s enlightenment but from where the message of love and compassion pervaded the entire universe. The Mahabodhi Mahavihara, also being a World Heritage Site, is venerated by the world Buddhist community and such acts of vandalism deserve our strongest words of disapproval. We condemn the dastardly act and request the Government to deal with such anti social elements with a strong hand so that such acts of mindless violence do not occur again in any place of worship of any religious denomination".[56]

In Nagpur during a protest, Buddhist monk Bodhi Priya Vinay tried to immolate himself but was stopped by police.[57] Buddhist monks from Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, including the World Fellowship of Buddhists, condemned the Gaya attacks.[58] Throughout India, protestors led peace rallies and bandhs against the Bodh Gaya bombings.[59][60][61][62][63][64][65]

World Council of Churches general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit expressed "heartfelt sorrow and solidarity" over the bombings. In a letter to the Buddhist community, he said: “We wish and hope that this incident, despite its traumatic and tragic dimensions, may be transformed into an opportunity to offer the world a glimpse of the best of your morality and spirituality".[66]

References

  1. 1 2 Gupta, Shishir; Ahuja Rajesh (11 July 2013). "Indian Mujahideen Bodh Gaya blasts tweet traced to Pakistan". Hindustan Times (New Delhi). HT Media Limited. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "5 injured in multiple blasts at Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya". The Times of India. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 PTI (8 July 2013). "13 bombs were planted in Mahabodhi temple complex: Shinde". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 AGENCIES (7 July 2013). "Third bomb recovered near Bodh Gaya". The Times of India, Times Now. Times Now, TIMES GLOBAL BROADCASTING COMPANY LIMITED. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "2 monks injured as terror strikes Bodh Gaya". The Hindu. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  6. ↑ Agencies (11 July 2013). "Only modern structures at temple damaged: ASI". Mid DAY (New Delhi). Mid-Day Infomedia Ltd. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Myanmar govt, Suu Kyi slam attack on Buddhist shrine". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Tiwari, Deeptiman (6 November 2013). "Ranchi document helps NIA crack Bodh Gaya blast case". Times of India. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  9. 1 2 Gaikwad, Rahi; Yadav Anumeha; Pandey Devesh (7 November 2013). "Patna terror cell behind Bodh Gaya strike too: NIA". The Hindu (Patna, Ranchi, New Delhi). The Hindu. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "History of Bodhgaya". Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Daily Routine of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara". Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "News & Events". Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Terror strikes Bodh Gaya, serial blasts rock Mahabodhi Temple". Economic Times. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  14. ↑ Yadav, Anumeha (7 July 2013). "Serial blasts rock Bodh Gaya temple". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Home". Tergar International. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Srivastava, Amitabh; Bhalla Abhishek (8 July 2013). "Strike on a non-functional day at Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi Temple spared many lives". India Today. Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  17. 1 2 3 Sudhi Sen (8 July 2013). "Day after terror attack, prayers for peace at Bodh Gaya". NDTV. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  18. 1 2 "Dalai Lama, Tibetan govt-in-exile pained over Bodh Gaya blasts". The Times of India (Dharamshala, India). Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  19. ↑ Singh, Vijaita (23 July 2013). "MHA: Police in Bodhgaya left 'effective' IEDs lying around". The Indian Express (New Delhi). The Indian Express Ltd. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  20. 1 2 Sahni, Ajai (8 July 2013). "Bodh Gaya: Culpable Neglect". The Outlook Magazine. The Outlook Group. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  21. ↑ Rani, Lata (8 July 2013). "Buddha’s name found on Bihar temple bomb". Gulf News. Al Nisr Publishing LLC. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Bodhgaya blasts: Police release CCTV footage, terror suspect detained". India Today (Bodh Gaya (Bihar)). The India Today Group. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "One held for questioning over Bodh Gaya blasts". Hindustan Times. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  24. ↑ PTI (11 July 2013). "NIA releases two in Bodh Gaya blasts case". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Alleged Indian Mujahideen tweet claiming responsibility for Mahabodhi blasts traced to Pak". CNN-IBN (New Delhi). Cable News Network. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  26. ↑ Ministry of Home Affairs. "Press Releases - Details of suspect involved in Bodh Gaya blast dated 07.07.2013". New Delhi: Government of India. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  27. ↑ Tiwary, Deeptiman (17 July 2013). "NIA releases sketch of suspected Bodh Gaya bomber". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  28. ↑ Tiwary, Deeptiman (18 July 2013). "Bomber wanted to blow up main statue". The Times of India (New Delhi). Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  29. ↑ Jain, Bharti (25 July 2013). "Bodh Gaya blasts: Guwahati shop under NIA scanner". The Times Of India (New Delhi). Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  30. ↑ Press Trust of India (23 July 2013). "Mahabodhi blasts: Bomb timers were traced to Gujarat, bought in Guwahati". CNN-IBN. Cable News Network, LP LLLP. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  31. ↑ Tiwary, Deeptiman (1 November 2013). "Patna, Bodh Gaya bombs similar; used same brand of clocks as timers". Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  32. ↑ Tiwary, Deeptiman (29 October 2013). "Patna, Bodh Gaya bombs similar; used same brand of clocks as timers". The Times of India (New Delhi). Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  33. ↑ Kumar, Manish; Ghosh Shamik (6 November 2013). "Patna blasts planned on instant messaging site: investigators". NDTV (New Delhi). NDTV Convergence Limited 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  34. ↑ Gaikwad, Rahi (7 November 2013). "Bodh Gaya bomb planters identified; motives and methods still under probe". The Hindu (Patna). The Hindu. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  35. ↑ Kumar, Manish; Ghosh Shamik (6 November 2013). "Patna blasts planned on instant messaging site: investigators". NDTV (New Delhi). NDTV Convergence Limited 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  36. ↑ Chaturvedi, Amit; With inputs from Agencies (8 July 2013). "10 Developments : Bodh Gaya blasts: temple reopens, monks hold special prayers". NDTV India. NDTV Convergence Limited. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  37. ↑ Pandey, Devesh K (8 July 2013). "Delhi Police warning went in vain". The Hindu (New Delhi). Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  38. 1 2 3 Raj, Dev; Farooquee Neyaz (14 July 2013). "Tests of faith". Hindustan Times (New Delhi). HT Media Limited. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  39. ↑ Staff Reporter (7 July 2013). "‘Administration to be blamed for shameful act’". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  40. ↑ Staff Reporter (7 July 2013). "We had always been on alert: Nitish". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  41. ↑ Guha Roy, Anirban; Raj Dev (7 July 2013). "Terror strikes Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi temple, Buddha idol safe; NIA begins probe". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "Bodh Gaya blasts fallout of rising Muslim-Buddhist hostilities in Burma, Lanka". Punjabnewsline.com. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  43. ↑ Kuruluwansa, Asela. "PM condemns attack". Daily News (Colombo, Sri Lanka). The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  44. ↑ IANS (16 July 2013). "Bodh Gaya blasts: Sketches of three suspects released". DNA (Patna). Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  45. ↑ "President condemns Bodh Gaya blasts as senseless terror act". DNA India (New Delhi). PTI. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  46. ↑ DNA Web Team (7 July 2013). "NIA team reaches Bodh Gaya, begins probe". DNA India (Gaya). DNA Webdesk. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  47. ↑ India Today Online (7 July 2013). "Suspected IM member arrested in Kolkata for Bodh Gaya terror attack". India Today (Bodh Gaya). Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  48. ↑ Staff Reporter (7 July 2013). "National Buddhist body condemns attack". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  49. ↑ PTI (5 August 2013). "Rajya Sabha condemns Mahabodhi temple blast, Chhattisgarh Naxal attack". The Economic Times (New Delhi). Times Internet Limited. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  50. ↑ IANS (11 November 2013). "Bihar begins to set up ATS". Business Standard (Patna). Business Standard Ltd. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  51. ↑ The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s message on the Bodh Gaya Bombing, Tibet Post, 8 July 2013
  52. ↑ "July 07th, 2013: A letter from H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa". The Karmapa Documentary Project. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  53. ↑ 7 July 2013. "Statement by the President of Sri Lanka H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa on the serial blasts at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya in the state of Bihar on 7 July 2013". High Commission of Sri Lanka in India. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  54. ↑ "Press Releases : Statement on Gaya Blast in India". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  55. ↑ "8th Global Conference on Buddhism passed resolutions against violence in Buddhist countries and bombing in India". The Buddhist Channel. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  56. ↑ Staff Correspondent (18 July 2013). "Buddhists move PM over attacks on shrine". The Assam Tribune (Dibrugarh). Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  57. ↑ Press Trust of India (15 August 2013). "Monk attempts self immolation to protest Mahabodhi Temple blasts". CNN-IBN. Cable News Network. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  58. ↑ Bangkok Post and dpa (10 July 2013). "Monks protest Bodh Gaya attack". Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand). The Post Publishing Public Company Limited. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  59. ↑ ANI (12 July 2013). "Buddhists protest in Siliguri against Bodh Gaya blasts". Business Standard. Business Standard Ltd. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  60. ↑ Correspondent (11 July 2013). "Tawang protests blasts in Bodh Gaya". The Assam Tribune. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  61. ↑ PTI (10 July 2013). "Bandh in Aurangabad over Mahabodhi temple blasts peaceful". IBN Live. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  62. ↑ "Shanti March undertaken to condemn, and protest serial bombing in Bodh Gaya in city". Nagpur Today. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  63. ↑ "Leg bandh against Bodh Gaya terrorist attack". Tiger News International. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  64. ↑ "LADAKH observes complete Bandh to protest Bodh Gaya blasts". City Air News. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  65. ↑ Staff Reporter (8 July 2013). "Buddhist monks stage protest in Kolkata". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  66. ↑ "Letter of solidarity to Buddhists on Mahabodhi temple blasts". World Council of Churches. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.

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