2013 Bodh Gaya bombings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 2013 Bodh Gaya bombings
Bodhi Tree near the Mahabodhi Temple.
Bodh Gaya, Bihar Location in Bihar
Location	Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya
Date	7 July 2013 05:30–06:00 (IST)
Attack type	Bombing
Weapons	Improvised explosive device and cylinder bombs
Non-fatal injuries	5
Assailants	Indian Mujahideen

On July 7, 2013, a series of ten bombs exploded in and around the Mahabodhi Temple complex. This site in Bodh Gaya, India, is very important. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five people were hurt, including two Buddhist monks. Bomb squads safely removed three other bombs nearby.

The main temple and the Bodhi Tree were not damaged. The Bodhi Tree is where Gautama Buddha became enlightened. However, some newer buildings in the complex were damaged. Many important people spoke out against the attacks. These included the 14th Dalai Lama and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Later, investigators announced that the group Indian Mujahideen was responsible.

A special court found five people guilty of carrying out the attacks. They were members of the Indian Mujahideen. They were sentenced to life in prison. Another young person involved was sentenced to three years in a special home.

Another bombing happened on January 19, 2018, at the Mahabodhi Temple. The Dalai Lama was in town for a prayer event. No one was hurt in this attack. For the 2018 bombings, a court sentenced three people to life in prison. Five others received ten-year sentences. These attackers were from a group called Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.

In both the 2013 and 2018 bombings, the attackers said their reason was to get revenge. They targeted Buddhist sites because of the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. Myanmar is a country where most people are Buddhist.

Bombings at Mahabodhi Temple

The Mahabodhi Mahavihara is a very important temple for Buddhists around the world. The bombs went off between 5:30 and 6:00 AM local time. This was when daily prayers and meditation usually begin.

Four of the bombs exploded inside the Mahabodhi Temple complex:

• The first bomb went off at 5:30 AM during prayers.
• About two minutes later, another bomb exploded. This was at the Animesh Lochna Temple. Wooden bookshelves with Buddhist scriptures were damaged.
• A third bomb exploded at the Butter Lamp House. This blast damaged an ambulance parked there.
• A fourth bomb exploded inside a small shrine. But a statue of the Buddha in the shrine was not damaged.

Five other bombs exploded in Bodh Gaya. These were within 500 meters of the temple complex:

• A small bomb exploded near a large statue of the Buddha.
• Three bombs exploded at the Tergar (Tibetan) Monastery. One bomb was placed near a classroom door. The windows and doors were damaged. No children were hurt because they were on holiday.
• One bomb exploded on a bus parked nearby.

India's Home Minister later said there were ten blasts, not nine. It was not clear where the tenth bomb went off. Even after the blasts, monks opened the temple for prayers.

Bomb squads found and safely removed three more bombs. These bombs did not explode because their timers failed. One was at the Tergar monastery. Another was near the Buddha statue. A third was found near a hotel. The bomb team carefully removed the parts that would make them explode.

Investigators found three handwritten notes with the unexploded bombs. These notes were in the Urdu language. Two notes seemed to describe where the bombs would be placed. The third note mentioned "Revenge for Iraq."

Investigation and Clues

On July 8, police released video footage from the temple. They also shared drawings of the suspected attackers. Two brothers, Sahidur and Saifur Rehman, were identified from these drawings. They were thought to be part of the Indian Mujahideen group. Another man, Vinod Mistri, was arrested because his ID was found. But he said he had lost it. He was later released due to lack of evidence.

A message claiming responsibility for the bombings appeared online. It warned that another city would be the next target. Investigators traced this message to Pakistan.

On July 16, investigators released more drawings and a video. They showed a suspect dressed like a Buddhist monk. This person reportedly placed four bombs. Witnesses noticed the suspect did a religious walk incorrectly. Investigators believe the bomber wanted to blow up the main Buddha statue. But he did not go inside because prayers had already started.

Investigators found that the timers used in the bombs were bought in a city called Guwahati. The clocks on the unexploded bombs were made in Rajkot. The bomb cylinders were from Bihar. This made investigators think local people were involved.

The bombs used in this attack were very similar to bombs used in another attack in Patna. Investigators found evidence of a bombing plot in a lodge in Ranchi. They found a map of planned bombings and coded names. This confirmed that a group from Ranchi was behind the blasts.

Reports said that different people placed bombs at different locations. Six people were part of the attacking team. They worked in pairs. Investigators named five people who planned the attack over a year before it happened. They believe a person named Hyder Ali planned the attack. He may have been guided by another operative. Investigators also suspect a Pakistani leader of the group ordered the attack.

Warnings Before the Attack

Some people blamed the local police for the blasts. They said there was not enough security at the temple. Metal detectors were not set up to find bombs. Only four guards were on duty when the bombs exploded. An expert said it was a mistake to let the temple committee handle security.

In 2010, an investigator learned that another group had planned to bomb the temple. In 2012, the Indian Mujahideen group also planned to attack the temple. India's intelligence agency gave several warnings in 2012 and 2013. Police were told in June 2013 about possible targets. On July 2, they were warned that two suspects had entered the area. The government warned on July 3 that the temple was a target.

These warnings led to a police meeting about security. But the blasts happened within 100 hours of that meeting. A Buddhist leader said it was "shameful" that the blasts happened despite the warnings. The Chief Minister of Bihar said the government was always alert. But a senior official said their warnings were not taken seriously.

Reactions to the Bombings

India's President Pranab Mukherjee called the blasts a "senseless act of violence." He said it targeted innocent pilgrims and monks. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, also condemned the incident. He said India respects all religions and such attacks would not be allowed.

A national group of Buddhist monks, the All India Bhiku Sangha, was very sad. Their chairperson said the attacks shook the international community. He said, "We spread the message of peace... This is an attempt to spread terror." The Indian Parliament also condemned the attacks. The government of Bihar suggested creating a special anti-terror unit.

The 14th Dalai Lama called the attack "unfortunate." The Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile was "deeply saddened." Other Buddhist leaders also expressed their sorrow. They asked Buddhists to stay calm and not let the violence grow.

The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, was shocked. He said it was a very sad event. He condemned the explosions at the "most venerated and sacred" shrine. He said it was respected by Buddhists and all peace-loving people.

Myanmar's government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi were also unhappy about the blasts. The government of Thailand was "deeply disturbed."

Buddhist leaders from different traditions met in Singapore. They passed a resolution about the bombings. They said, "We are deeply saddened, but we forgive those responsible." They added that faith in forgiveness and compassion would not be destroyed.

Buddhist monks from Northeast India sent a message to the Prime Minister. They called it a "sad incident" that tried to damage a holy site. They said such acts of violence should be dealt with strongly. Buddhist monks from many countries, including Thailand and Sri Lanka, also condemned the attacks. People across India held peace rallies.

The World Council of Churches also expressed sadness and support. They hoped the incident could become a chance to show the world the best of Buddhist morality and spirituality.

See also

In Spanish: Explosiones en Bodh Gaya de 2013 para niños