Serial blasts at Bihar's Bodh Gaya temple, two injured

At least two Buddhist monks were injured early Sunday in multiple blasts at Bihar's 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya district, police said.

The blasts did not cause any casualty or damage to the temple and the Bodhi tree, under which Buddha attained enlightenment, a police officer told IANS over telephone from Bodh Gaya.

The first blast took place inside the temple compound followed by four more blast. "A live bomb was also found near the temple," N.H. Khan, a district police officer said.

The Bihar government has sounded high alert in Bodh Gaya and other sensitive places across the state. "Police are on high alert after the serial blasts," Additional Director General of Police Ravinder Kumar said.

"Additional security forces have been deployed at Mahabodhi temple and police have launched an investigation," Kumar added.

Intelligence agencies had last month warned the district administration about security threat to the temple.

Last year, security of the Mahabodhi temple was handed over to the Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar Police.

The temple at Bodh Gaya was built at the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago. It was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2002.