China threat: Govt reviews security of Dalai Lama

After the Dalai Lama went public on the Chinese threat to his life, New Delhi has quietly undertaken a security review and asked the Tibetan government-in-exile to upgrade the security of His Holiness, with concurrent instructions to the Himachal police. Last Sunday, the Dalai Lama had told an English newspaper that he could be poisoned by a female Chinese agent through touch while seeking his blessings.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Nodup, security minister for the government-in-exile, confirmed that a threat assessment of the Dalai Lama had been carried out. "We have decided to upgrade his security, both while travelling abroad and at Dharamsala," said Nodup, stating that the Tibetan spiritual leader was currently on a trip to Europe and would be back by May-end.

When asked how credible was this threat, Nodup said that some months ago, an input was received from Tibet about a possible assassination attempt. Beijing, however, has trashed the theory.

While Indian agencies also do not have any credible input on the Chinese trying to target the Dalai Lama, they do not want to take chances and have ordered a review of his security. The matter, incidentally, has not been brought before the high-powered committee in the home ministry.

While the Dalai Lama's inner security cordon comprises highly trained Tibetan security guards, the outer periphery at Dharamsala is handled by a team of 70 Himachal Pradesh commandos, headed by an additional SP from CID. Visitors are screened by trained security experts in mufti.