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Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna
The Akhil Bharatiya Bhikshu Mahasangh, a powerful body of Indian Buddhist monks, demanded the immediate arrest of two Sri Lankan monks, who it alleged were 'involved' in the shifting of rare relics of Lord Buddha's disciples from Sanchi Stupa at Varanasi to Sri Lanka.
ABBM general secretary Bhante Anand told rediff.com that two Sri Lankan monks -- Bhante Wimasara Thero, Bangala Upattisa and their aide Rajpal Rana -- were the main 'conspirators'.
The Mahabodhi Society of India in a white paper issued had pointed out that certain rare relics were missing from Sanchi Stupa.
The white paper alleged that the Sri Lankan monks had stolen the relics, belonging to Sariputta and Mahamoggallana, two of Lord Buddha's disciples.
The relics were preserved at Sanchi Stupa by first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.
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