Bodh Gaya: The Mukti Andolan Dharna, a protest demanding amendments to the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) Act, which had been ongoing for the past three months in Gaya, finally came to an end following strict action by the district administration. Police cleared the unauthorized protest site located on private land near Do Muhan in a midnight operation. This decisive move came after the administration faced increasing criticism for its handling of the prolonged demonstration, which had begun to clash with public sentiment.
The dharna initially commenced in front of the revered Mahabodhi Temple on February 12. This initial gathering, also held without official permission, was removed after a few days and subsequently relocated to Do Muhan. However, even at this new location, the protesters continued their demonstration on private land without obtaining the necessary authorization.
Over the course of the three-month period, the district administration refrained from taking stringent action and even attempted to facilitate meetings between the protesters and state and central government officials, despite the fact that the matter concerning the BTMC Act is currently sub judice in the Supreme Court.
As time progressed, the number of participants at the protest site swelled, drawing individuals from various states. Alarmingly, a Bangladeshi citizen, lacking valid identification documents, also joined the movement. The situation took a turn for the worse on May 13 when the agitators marched to the premises of the Mahabodhi Temple and began raising slogans.
When police and devotees intervened to stop them, a scuffle broke out, during which a professional photographer was allegedly assaulted. This incident ignited the anger of local traders in Bodh Gaya. The following day, shopkeepers staged a complete shutdown of their businesses and chanted slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in protest.
Faced with escalating tensions and a potential law and order situation, the police and district administration finally took decisive action. Security around the temple premises and the protest site was significantly increased. Ultimately, in a sustained operation spanning from the Thursday night to the late evening on Friday, the protest site at Do Muhan was completely vacated. Attempts to reach Bodh Gaya police station in-charge Manoj Kumar for comment were unsuccessful.
