Bodhgaya:
A day after eight explosions went off in quick succession at the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Bodhgaya, the RJD and the BJP have called a bandh in the Magadh division of the state to protest against the Nitish Kumar government's "failure" to prevent the terror attack despite prior information from intelligence agencies.
There were at least two alerts issued to Bihar in the last three months warning the state that there could be attacks in Bodhgaya, in light of the conflict in Myanmar between the majority Buddhists and the minority Muslim community. In fact, Delhi Police, too, had warned their Bihar counterparts last year of banned terror group Indian Mujahideen's plans to launch a fidayeen (suicide) attack on the shrine. Security was increased at the temple after the alert.
Sources have told NDTV that a security review meeting was held on July 2 which was attended by the local police and members of the temple trust. Only the perimeter of the temple complex - which has been established as a sensitive target - is manned by cops while security arrangements inside are looked after by the trust.
Police had, during the meeting, reportedly expressed apprehensions about the safety of the temple. But they didn't anticipate a strike of such nature during lean tourist season, according to sources. Four of the eight blasts last morning took place inside the Mahabodhi temple premises itself, leaving two monks injured.
The opposition parties are now not missing any chance to launch an attack on the Chief Minister.
RJD national general secretary Ramkripal Yadav said the bandh call was intended to highlight the state government's "gross negligence" of security arrangements at the Mahabodhi temple and other Buddhist shrines in Bodhgaya.
The BJP was prompt in attacking the Chief Minister, asking him why intel warnings had been ignored by the state government. Mr Kumar's party, the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) had dumped the BJP last month after a 17-year-long relationship.