Dalai Lama's security again reviewed after NIA's alert

Himachal Pradesh Police Tuesday reviewed the security of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his official palace, besides establishments of the Tibetan government-in-exile, headquartered here, following a fresh alert.

Official sources said a high-level meeting of officials of the state police and Tibetan government was held here following a fresh advisory of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) about possible terrorist strikes in Tibetan-dominated areas and monasteries in the state.

The NIA Monday again alerted the state police in this regard, sources said.

Confirming this development, Superintendent of Police Balbir Thakur told IANS that some loopholes were found in the security of spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama and the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who are residing here, and these would be plugged soon.

"The security pickets around the Dalai Lama's palace and the Gyuto Tantric Monastic University, where the Karmapa resides, would be strengthened. There is even a plan to deploy sniffer dogs at both places," he said.

The boundary walls of both the places would be fortified, he added.

Ngodup Dorjee, swecreatry of Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) department of security, told IANS that there is a threat of harming the Dalai Lama by using drugs and poisonous chemicals.

"Since the government of India has extended Z-plus category security to the Dalai Lama, we have requested it to look into the feasibility to add chemical detectors to his security too," he added.

The sources said this was the second time after the blasts in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town July 7 that the security of the spiritual leaders was reviewed.

The Dalai Lama lives in exile along with some 140,000 Tibetans, over 100,000 of them in India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.

The Tibetan exile administration is based in this northern Indian hill town, but is not recognised by any country.