By IANS,
Bodh Gaya : The revered Mahabodhi temple here in Bihar will reopen to devotees Monday evening, 36 hours after a string of bombings hit the complex a day earlier. Police were questioning one suspect.
Gaya District Magistrate D. Balamurugan told the media here that the temple, shut for outsiders after the terrorist attack, will reopen to the public with special prayers by Buddhist monks.
He said regular prayers were continuing in the temple.
“The prayers were not discontinued after the serial blasts. Only the public was not allowed entry in view of investigation,” he said.
The Bodh Gaya temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. It is visited by millions from across the world.
The official said the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the attack, collected 12 samples.
Balamurugan refused to reveal more on the investigation. “NIA officials are the right people to (comment).”
Meanwhile, police Monday said a man was detained and interrogated after his identity card was found in the temple.
Vinod Mishtri was taken into custody Sunday evening from a village in Gaya district. Police officials said more arrests were likely on the basis of CCTV footage.
Police said “suspicious activity” had been noticed on CCTV footage and efforts were on to identify people.
Fifteen of the 16 CCTV cameras installed at the temple premises were functional when the bombs went off.
A string of explosions — there are varying accounts on the number — took place in the temple complex Sunday, injuring two monks but not causing much damage to the structure.
The government called it a terrorist attack.