Publication Date : 08-07-2013
Serial bomb blasts hit Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar, eastern of India on Sunday morning, injuring five including a Myanmar monk.
The incident came during a week after TIME magazine featured a cover story of "The Face of Buddhist Terror" in July issue and it was banned from distribution.
There had been no damage to the Bodhi Tree or the main temple structure as they were low intensity time bombs, according to the reports of Indian police.
The Bodhi tree was not damaged, but there were the injuried, said the chief police of Bihar Abhyanand.
Witnesses and police officers said that there were eight bomb explosions and there were the injured including two monks—one is a national of Myanmar and another is Tibet, adding that one of them were in a critical condition.
The first bomb exploded at around 5:30am and the remaining blasts took place an interval of two minutes. Around 200 Buddhist pilgrims were present in the temple when the explosions took place.
Indian Home Ministry earlier said that it was too early to confirm the incidents as a terror, but later Union home secretary Anil Goswami confirmed that the Bodh Gaya blasts were a terror attack.
Security was beefed up in and around other religious sites of the district and two live bombs were also discovered, the reports said.
The Mahabodhi temple is a very important pilgrimage site for Buddhists in Bodh Gaya, the location where lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96 km from the state capital Patna.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had visited it six months back said that he felt concern for bomb attacks and it was the site where Sri Lankan pilgrims usually visited.
Hari Manjhi, BJP MP from Gaya has slammed the state government for inaction, saying that despite receiving warnings of a terrorist attack, no action was taken and 'only numerous meetings' were held and that was the first time such an incident had taken place in Bodh Gaya".
Our composite culture and tradtions teach us to respect all religions. Attacks on religious places will never be tolerated, said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Historically, Bodh Gaya is a sacred place where the Four Noble Truths dawned upon the would-be Buddha, Prince Siddhartha. In the global history also, it is an ancient cultural place. Bombing that place means insulting the entire Buddhism. As Buddhism is based on loving-kindness, one should not react to assault with assault no matter how another tries to insult. Here, I urge the Indian government to address such incidents within the framework of law, said Ashin Deveinda Linkara Bhivamsa of Sitagu World Buddhist University.
"Bomb blasts occur frequently in the world. But it was terrible that bombs went off in a sacred place revered by the Buddhists. It should have not happened at all. In this modern, confused world, there should not be religious misunderstandings and confusions. I feel so sad to learn the bomb explosions at Bodh Gaya. I condemn this as it will be concerns for the lives of pilgrims coming to Bodh Gaya. I would like to urge the Buddhist people to adhere to loving-kindness as the incident took place in a sacred place. Yet, those responsible for this should be exposed in accord with the law. Buddhists like us should not retaliate.
"We must show loving-kindness by opposing what we should oppose, said Ashin Dhamma Piya of Ngakyanpyan Sasana Yeiktha, Yangon.
When I heard about it, I felt very disappointed as the blasts targeted the most sacred place of Buddhism. It must be retaliation against the religion because of U Withura's movements. It is a rude assault to Buddhists as it is the birthplace of Buddhism. This extremist attack is very bad-mannered and very disgusting. Did U Withura kill anyone? Or did he order someone to kill? Everyone would talk about safeguarding their own religion and nationality. Is it wrong? It shouldn't be a situation like "I slap your face and you bite my ear." Problems should be solved one by one. No good citizen would do such thing. It's inhuman," said U Karwira who is also known as Galonni Sayadaw.
Two Buddhist monks got injured in these attacks. One is a native from Myin Chan, central Myanmar staying in a Myanmar-donated monastery there. He is now at Gaya Hospital receiving medical treatment. He got minor injuries.
After the blasts, authorities found two other bombs placed in two Thai monasteries, two others at a Tibet-Karmapa monastery, and one outside of a Japanese temple [before they go off]. Monks living at international monasteries cautioned each other to stay alert. I
"I heard that the information about the bombing was spread three weeks before. Security cameras are being set up there. We [Myanmar monks] are also preparing to collect donations for their medical costs, said Ashin Kumudra from Bawdhitahtaung Monastery.
"At 5am, I went with my mate Monk Vila Sagga to the Maha Bodhi Stupa to say prayers. I said prayers on the north of Maha Bodhi Tree, and the injured monk did on the south. At 5:30am, the bomb blast loudly," said Ashin Eindra Vuda, a Buddhist monk who is also a witness.
"When such events happen, it becomes a case that threatens the security of the nation and the religion. The source of the problem is that a group of people made conflicts based on usual criminal issues.
"The government also doesn't punish that group of people, and the threats of the group's activities grow continuously. It leads to the start of the problem. To prevent that fire not to spread here, it is required to form groups like All Religions Youth Association, condemn any violence, discourage (violence) at the grass-roots level, avoid any involvement ourselves, cooperate with and inform to the police and administration officials, prevent the entry of any violence into our country and strive together for any violence not to happen in the country," said Tin Than Oo, an economic and law consultant.
After checking the investigation results in India, Myanmar Police Force will continue to take security measures, said Police Brigadier General Soe Myaing from Myanmar Police Force Headquarters.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/08/myanmar-monk-injured-in-bomb-blasts-in-india/
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