Question : TERRORIST ATTACK ON MAHABODHI TEMPLE

(a) whether the Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bihar was rocked by a series of explosions on 7 July, 2013;

(b) if so, the damages caused to the complex and the number of casualties as a result of the explosions;

(c) whether any terrorist outfit has taken responsibility for the blasts;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the National Investigation Agency has since examined the site/area and submitted its report to the Government; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to ensure safety of the Mahabodhi temple and other religious places across the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a) : Yes, Madam. 10 (Ten) serial bomb blasts took place in the Mahabodhi Temple at BodhGaya in Bihar on 7th July, 2013.

(b) : There was no casualty due to the bomb blasts. However, two persons were injured in the blasts. No major damage was caused to the temple statuary complex due to the blast.

(c) & (d) : No known terrorist group has taken the responsibility of the blast.

(e) & (f): The case has been transferred to National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation, which is going on. ‘Law & Order’ is a State subject as per the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India. However, there exists a very close and effective coordination amongst intelligence agencies at the Centre and the State levels to monitor the activities of terrorist organizations. Intelligence inputs about possible designs and threats are shared with the State Governments concerned on a regular basis. The Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has been strengthened and re-organized to enable it to function on 24x7 basis for real time collation and sharing of intelligence with other intelligence agencies and security intelligence inputs are shared with the concerned States through the established mechanism, which ensures close coordination and sharing of intelligence and seamless flow of information between the States and the Central Security and Law Enforcement Agency. This has resulted in busting of many terror modules, averting major terror attack planning.