Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041053430700.htm

National

Buddhists protest vandalism

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: Several Buddhists staged a protest at Bavikonda on Wednesday protesting against damage caused to a monument and demanded steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

“It’s a disgrace that miscreants chose to break the ancient bricks hurting the sentiments of peace loving Buddhists,” Subba Rao, local president of the All India Leh Buddhists’ Association, said.

G. Arjun, an orthopaedician in King George Hospital, said the monument should be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India.

Rani Sarma, an INTACH activist, now camping in the US, condemned vandalism said the site was significant as five relic caskets were unearthed in the mahastupa. One of these, said to be of Lord Buddha himself, was displayed in a museum at Hyderabad and was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama.