2013 Bodh Gaya bombings

2013 Bodh Gaya bombings
Bodhi Tree near the Mahabodhi Temple.
Bodh Gaya, Bihar is located in Bihar
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
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Location of Bodh Gaya in Bihar.
LocationMahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya
Date7 July 2013
05:30–06:00 (IST)
Attack type
Bombing
WeaponsImprovised explosive device[1] and cylinder bombs
Injured5
PerpetratorsIndian Mujahideen
MotiveAvenge the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar
Convicted
  • Umer Siddiqui
  • Azaharuddin Qureshi
  • Imtiyaz Ansari alias Alam
  • Haider Ali alias Black Beauty
  • Mujibullah Ansari
[2]
VerdictLife Imprisonment and fine
ConvictionsCriminal conspiracy, promoting enmity among different groups on grounds of religion, sect and place of birth
ChargesUnlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Act
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Violence against Buddhists

On 7 July 2013 a series of ten bombs exploded in and around the Mahabodhi Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bodh Gaya, India. Five people, including two Buddhist monks, were injured by the blasts. Three other devices were defused by bomb-disposal squads at a number of locations in Gaya.[3][4][5]

The temple itself and the Bodhi Tree (where Gautama Buddha had attained enlightenment) were undamaged.[6] However, the Archaeological Survey of India confirmed damage to new structures in the temple complex.[7] International figures, including the Dalai Lama, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Myanmar Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, condemned the attacks.[8] On 4 November 2013, the National Investigation Agency announced that the Islamic terrorist group Indian Mujahideen was responsible for the bombings.[9][10]

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court found all five of the accused Indian Mujahideen terrorists, Imtiyaz Ansari, Mujib Ullah, Omair Siddiqui and Azharuddin Qureishi, guilty of carrying out the attacks and sentenced them to life imprisonment under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Act. Another minor was sentenced for three years at a remand home by a juvenile court in 2017.[11][12]

Another IED bombing was carried out on 19 January 2018 at the Mahabodhi Temple when the Dalai Lama along with several Buddhist pilgrims was camping in the town to participate in the month-long Kalachakra prayer; no one was apparently hurt in the attack.[13] For the 2018 bombings on 1 June 2018, a special NIA court of Patna sentenced to 3 of the 8 accused to life imprisonment and the other 5 to ten years in prison. All of them were members of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.[14][15][16]

In both the 2013 and 2018 bombings the terrorists stated their motive was targeting Buddhist sites to avenge the Rohingya genocide in neighbouring Myanmar, a Buddhist majority country.[11][17]

  1. ^ Gupta, Shishir; Rajesh, Ahuja (11 July 2013). "Indian Mujahideen Bodh Gaya blasts tweet traced to Pakistan". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. HT Media Limited. Archived from the original on 11 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Five sentenced to life imprisonment in Bodh Gaya serial blasts case". Headlines Today. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  3. ^ "5 injured in multiple blasts at Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya". The Times of India. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. ^ PTI (8 July 2013). "13 bombs were planted in Mahabodhi temple complex: Shinde". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference TIMES NOW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "2 monks injured as terror strikes Bodh Gaya". The Hindu. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  7. ^ Agencies (11 July 2013). "Only modern structures at temple damaged: ASI". Mid DAY. New Delhi. Mid-Day Infomedia Ltd. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Myanmar govt, Suu Kyi slam attack on Buddhist shrine". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  9. ^ Tiwari, Deeptiman (6 November 2013). "Ranchi document helps NIA crack Bodh Gaya blast case". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  10. ^ Gaikwad, Rahi; Anumeha, Yadav; Devesh, Pandey (7 November 2013). "Patna terror cell behind Bodh Gaya strike too: NIA". The Hindu. Patna, Ranchi, New Delhi. The Hindu. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  11. ^ a b "2013 Bodhgaya blast: All five accused pronounced guilty". The Indian Express. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  12. ^ Team, ThePrint (1 June 2018). "Five get life imprisonment for 2013 Bodh Gaya blasts". ThePrint. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  13. ^ "8 JMB terrorists convicted in Bodh Gaya blast case". Hindustan Times. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  14. ^ "3 get life imprisonment in 2018 Bodh Gaya blasts case". New Indian Express. 17 December 2017.
  15. ^ "In Bodh Gaya Blasts Case, 3 Get Life Term, 5 Get 10 Years Jail". NDTV.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  16. ^ "8 JMB terrorists convicted in Bodh Gaya blast case". Hindustan Times. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  17. ^ "NIA Says Explosive Set Off In Bodh Gaya To Show Solidarity With Rohingya". NDTV.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.