Female Bihar Police Constables Suspended for Dance Video at Mahabodhi Mahavihara

Tejaswini

Gaya: Two female police constables from the Bihar State Armed Police (BSAP), women battalion in Sasaram, have been suspended following the circulation of a viral reel video recorded on the premises of the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara. The incident comes amidst heightened security concerns during the visit of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, to Bodh Gaya.

The video, which surfaced on Saturday, depicts the two uniformed constables dancing and striking poses to the tunes of a popular Bollywood song. The footage was uploaded on Instagram on December 2, raising questions about the adherence to duty protocols.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Ashish Bharti, issued a statement on Sunday, stating, “Upon receiving information about the viral video on social media platforms, the duo was immediately suspended for dereliction of duty. Disciplinary action is also underway.”

An inquiry conducted by Bodh Gaya Deputy Superintendent of Police, Saurav Jaiswal, revealed that the video was recorded several days prior. Both suspended constables are assigned to the BSAP women battalion in Sasaram.

Notably, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) issues passes allowing the carrying of mobile phones and cameras within the Mahavihara premises for a fixed fee. However, capturing videos is strictly prohibited for security reasons. Special passes are granted to the organizing team of spiritual events on the Mahavihara campus for coordination purposes only.

The incident has raised concerns about security lapses during the Dalai Lama’s stay in Bodh Gaya, prompting authorities to beef up security measures in the heritage city. The 14th Dalai Lama’s presence has attracted attention, emphasizing the need for stringent enforcement of security protocols during this period.