DHARAMSHALA, July 12: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has written letters to top Indian leaders urging for a “heightened level of protection” to ensure the personal safety of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
The letters addressed to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Ministers of the states of Himachal Pradesh and Bihar comes on the heels of the recent terror attacks in the Buddhist holy town of Bodhgaya, in which two monks were injured.
On the morning of July 7, a total of ten bombs exploded within the complex of the two millennia old Mahabodhi Temple and at other locations, including the Tergar Monastery, the seat of the Gyalwang Karmapa in Bodhgaya,
The Tibetan lawmakers called for a “thorough investigation” into the serial blasts and apprised the central and state governments on the need for greater security at Buddhist places of worship.
The Dharamshala based Tibetan Parliament also urged heads and leaders of the major lineages of Buddhism and their monasteries to pay close attention to the security aspects of their respective places.
According to earlier reports, the Indian central government had directed all states to ensure fool-proof security at Buddhist shrines, Buddhist places of worship and Tibetan settlements in the wake of the attacks.
Speaking to Phayul, the secretary for the Department of Security of the Central Tibetan Administration said that the security in and around the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, has been beefed up as a precautionary measure.
“Under the guidance of the local Superintendant of Police and other concerned officials we held a meeting to discuss measures needed to be taken to step up the security of the main temple,” Secretary Ngodup Dorjee said.
“We have decided that for the time being we will not allow any cameras or mobile phones inside the temple premises and have also deployed more security personnel.”
The secretary added that the security personnel in and around the residence of the Dalai Lama have also been alerted.
