Dalai Lama's security reviewed after Bodh Gaya blasts

The security of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been reviewed after the blasts in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town early Sunday morning. The Dalai Lama's private office here said his security had been stepped up.

"We have issued an advisory to His Holiness' personal security officials," Ngodup Dorjee, Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) department of security secretary, told IANS.

"The Dalai Lama has already been provided Z-plus category security (by the Indian government). But we have beefed up the security of his official palace and Tsuglagkhang temple (close to the palace) too," he said.

Dorjee said a meeting would be held here, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Monday to review security arrangements of Tibetan monasteries and temples located across India.

Tibetan spiritual leaders the Dalai Lama and 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who are residing in Dharamsala's suburb McLeodganj, which is home to a large Tibetan population, are frequent visitors at the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town, where nine blasts took place early Sunday morning.

The Dalai Lama is currently in Karnataka where he participated in functions related to his 78th birthday Saturday in Bylakuppe, one of the largest settlements of the exiles in India.

Extra force has been put in place both at the Dalai Lama's palace and the Gyuto Tantric Monastic University, where the Karmapa resides, after the Bodh Gaya blasts, Superintendent of Police Balbir Thakur said.

"Police surveillance has been intensified in and around McLeodganj. We are in regular touch with the central intelligence agencies," he added.

Thakur said one of the two entry gates to the Tsuglagkhang temple has been closed and extra force has been deployed there.

"Electronic items, including camera and mobile, will not be allowed in the temple complex," he added.

The Dalai Lama visited Bodh Gaya twice in the past three years for teachings and religious functions, his private office said.

"His Holiness participated in the 'Kalachakra' (Wheel of Time) ceremony and prayed for world peace at Bodh Gaya from Jan 1 to 10, 2012," an official said.

In 2010, the Nobel laureate was in Bodh Gaya from January 4 to 10.

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.