NEW DELHI, 1 February 2003 — Tension eased yesterday in the ancient city of Gaya in Bihar after heavy deployment of security forces following desecration of idols by miscreants, official sources said. Sources said prohibitory orders were promulgated in the town on Thursday as tension ran high with angry residents taking to the streets to protest desecration of idols at Rajendra Ashram under Civil Lines police station. Security was immediately beefed up around the city to prevent any untoward incident, said District Magistrate Brajesh Mehrotra adding no major incidents have been reported during the past 24 hours in the town. This is the third incident of damaging the idols in the city in the last two months. Earlier, on Dec. 28, 2002, an idol was damaged, and then again on Jan. 9, two temples were damaged by anti-social elements.
