(TibetanReview.net, Jan01’16) –The Himachal Pradesh police have sought more fund and manpower as well as more sophisticated equipment for the personal security of Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, given enhanced threat perceptions, reported tribuneindia.com Dec 30, citing reviews by various state and central security agencies.
The report said the proposal submitted to the state’s home department included installation of high-resolution cameras, baggage scanners and other sophisticated equipment. But the state government has for long been demanding that the central government refund it for its security arrangement for the exiled Tibetan leader.
Concerning the reasons for proposing the enhanced security measures, the report said it was due to the threat perception to the life of the Dalai Lama on whom the entire Tibetan freedom struggle rests. The report added that there had been several instances in the recent past when alleged Chinese spies with maps and documents containing secret information had been arrested from around his residence.
The report noted that the plans to deploy additional force and install equipment at the Dalai Lama’s residence was a follow up on the review of his security by various agencies, including the state CID, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Military Intelligence and other security forces. Currently, the report continued, the security of the Dalai Lama was being managed by Tibetan security personnel who form the inner ring of security, along with more than 50 Himachal Police personnel.
The new security proposal calls for the installation of high-resolution 360 degrees cameras, baggage scanners and sophisticated sabotage-check equipment at the entrance of the Dalai Lama’s residence. “We have proposed a full-fledged battalion for his security against the existing strength of 50 Himachal Police personnel,” the report quoted an unnamed senior police functionary as saying. If the proposal is accepted, more than 100 personnel will guard him round the clock.
The state police was also reported to have called for raising the level of security at the residence of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee who has been residing at the Gyuto Monastery located in Sidhbari on the outskirts of Dharamsala since he fled Chinese ruled Tibet and arrived at the seat of the exile Tibetan administration in Jan 2000.