10 blasts rocked Bodh Gaya, says Shinde

SushilKumar-ShindeNew Delhi, July 8 : A total of 10 blasts rocked the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town and 13 bombs were planted at the holy site the day before, Home Minister SushilKumar Shinde said Monday.

"Today (Monday) I got information that 10 blasts took place and 13 bombs were planted at Bodh Gaya," Shinde told reporters updating on Sunday's explosions that miraculously injured only two people.

"Our investigation is progressing and I would not like to say anything more. The home ministry took immediate action and NIA (National Investigation Agency) teams were sent to Bodh Gaya," he said.

Earlier Sunday, officials said nine blasts took place between 5.30 a. m. and 6 a. m. at the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple, annually visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world, especially from Sri Lanka, China, Japan and the Southeast Asia region.

Two Buddhist monks were injured -- Tibetan Tenzing Dorjee, 50, and the other, a Myanmarese national named Vilas Ga, 30, officials said.(IANS)