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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Anwar condemns terror attacks on Buddhism's holiest shrine in Bodh Gaya

Anwar condemns terror attacks on Buddhism's holiest shrine in Bodh Gaya
Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has condemned the attacks on Buddhism's holiest shrine in India, urging all parties to use peaceful means to resolve differences and reminding Muslims that Islam forbade acts of violence against any place of worship.
"The recent attacks on Buddhism’s holiest shrine in Bodh Gaya are despicable acts of terror and sacrilege which must be condemned by all. The culprits must be brought to account to face the full force of the law," Anwar said in a statement.
"Whatever may be the reasons for these attacks, it is to be stressed that Islam forbids such acts of violence and enjoins all parties to resort to peaceful means to resolve differences."
Terrorists had shattered the peace of the world-renowned Mahabodhi temple and surrounding pilgrim spots in Bodhgaya on July 7, setting off nine blasts in 30 minutes despite numerous intelligence alerts of such an attack.
The blasts left two persons injured. While no group has owned responsibility, the home-grown Indian Mujahideen (IM) has once again emerged as the main suspect. There are also fears that the bombings could be revenge attacks for the Rohingya Muslims.
Was Bodh Gaya revenge for attacks on Rohingya Muslims?
The Indian government is under pressure to find answers quickly to one of the strangest incidents to occur recently on its soil. Although many religious destinations of Hindus have been targets in the past, this was the first in which a Buddhist shrine was targeted.
No one knows what the real motive was behind this act of terrorism. According to the Bangkok Post, some fingers are being pointed to domestic politics in Bihar, the Indian state in which the temple is located, while others are saying it is the outcome of the regional tensions in Southeast Asia.
The latter theory leads to Myanmar, a country that has faced international condemnation for failing to protect Muslims from persecution by Buddhist extremists. These attacks often are led by monks, who have strayed far from their spiritual path to foment terror among their Muslim brothers and sisters who have been living peacefully in the country.
The hateful messages delivered by monks and other members of the Buddhist extremist group 969 are widely distributed on DVDs and posted on YouTube. The worldwide media attention has not only tarnished the image of Myanmar and threatened its reform process, but has given rise to talk about “revenge” attacks.
Mahabodi tree escaped damage
Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times reported that preliminary findings suggested the bombs — small LPG cylinders with timers — malfunctioned due to damp conditions.
They may have been timed to go off at prayer time. But with the glitch and with attendance thin, the damage was minimal.
The development also seemed to indicate the use of ammonium nitrate as the chemical tends to malfunction in humid or damp conditions, sources said.
According to DGP Abhayanand, four bombs went off at the temple complex - including two under the Mahabodhi tree that left a Tibetan monk and a pilgrim from Myanmar injured - three around the Karmapa monastery complex 1.5 km to the west, one adjacent to the 80-foot Buddha statue and another on a UP roadways bus.
Three bombs were found and defused. The explosions were all within a 2-km radius and in quick succession between 5.30am and 6am.
The sanctum sanctorum and Mahabodi tree, under which Buddha gained enlightenment in 531 BC, did not suffer any damage.
By evening, security had been tightened and the temple sanitised. With no night vision provisions, CCTVs in the temple complex failed to record any footage.
Rain and bad weather delayed central teams from reaching Patna.
Watch list
The Mahabodhi temple had been on the watch-list of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing since October.
Arrested IM operative Syed Maqbool had last year admitted to recceing the area as part of plans to target the shrine to avenge atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Bodhgaya draws lakhs of Buddhist pilgrims from Myanmar and elsewhere in Asia.
There were at least three alerts from the IB between October and July and inputs from the Delhi and Kolkata Police and National intelligence Agency (NIA).
Following the alerts last year, the state administration had replaced the district police guards with special task force personnel.
Last month, the Bihar Police had inducted an additional battalion with dog and bomb squads. A specific alert for Bodh Gaya last month that also prompted a mock drill and security review.
Additional director general of police (law and order) SK Bhardwaj admitted headquarters had been receiving specific inputs from central agencies since August.

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