ER Chhath special trains from Asansol to clear huge rush
Aiming to cater to the growing demand during the festive season, the Eastern Railway has decided to run all general coach Chhath special trains from Asansol to Patna.
At least two crude bombs were found in the Bodh Gaya pilgrimage centre in Bihar late Friday following a small explosion-like sound amid stringent security measures in view of the Dalai Lama’s stay, a top police official said.
The spiritual leader had retired for the day after which the explosives were recovered.
Police have launched an investigation in the matter. No arrests have been made yet regarding the planting of explosives. It is believed that the intensity of the recovered explosive is approximately 8-10 kgs.
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The bombs were found from the vicinity of the Kalachakra ground during an intensive combing operation by a police team led by DIG (Patna Range) Vinay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patna Zone, N H Khan said.
The IGP said that the operations were carried out after a small explosion took place at a kitchen set up at the Kaalchintan ground, causing panic among the devotees who had gathered to hear the Dalai Lama’s discourse.
The explosion had taken place shortly after the Dalai Lama had completed his discourse and retired for the day at the Tibetan monastery, he said.
During the operations, a burst thermos flask was found at the kitchen. This might have caused the sound, the IGP said.
Meanwhile, a team of forensic experts was dispatched to the site of the incident from Patna to ascertain the nature of the explosives found, he said.
The Tibetan spiritual leader had arrived in Bodh Gaya on January 1 and he is likely to stay there for a month. The Dalai Lama will be hold a teaching session in Kalachakra Maidan on 25 January.
Incidentally, in 2013, the Maha Bodhi temple, situated on the spot where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, was rocked by a series of explosions in which five people, including two monks were injured.
(With PTI inputs)
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