The security of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's official palace and nearby Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamsala was beefed up on Sunday, hours after nine low-intensity blasts rocked Bodh Gaya town in Bihar. The security was tightened after a review by Department of Security of Central Tibetan administration.
"Security of the Dalai Lama's private office has been stepped up and an advisory has been issued to His Holiness' personal security officials," Ngodup Dorjee, department of security secretary(CTA) said.
"The Tibetan spiritual leader has been provided Z-plus security by the Indian government and we have only beefed up the security of his official palace and Tsuglagkhang temple (close to the palace)," he said.
A meeting of Central Tibetan Administration would be held on Sunday to review security arrangements of Tibetan monasteries and temples located across India.
"Additional security force has been deployed at the Dalai Lama's palace and the Gyuto Tantric Monastic University, where Karmapa resides, after the Bodh Gaya blasts," Balbir Thakur, Superintendent of Police, Kangra said.
"Police surveillance has been strengthened in and around McLeodganj and police is in constant touch with the central intelligence agencies," he added. Thakur said one of the two entry gates of Tsuglagkhang temple has been closed and extra force has been deployed there and carrying of electronic items, including camera and mobile has been prohibited in the temple complex, he said.
Both the Dalai Lama and Karmappa are regular visitors to Bodh Gaya. The Lama visited Bodh Gaya twice in the past three years for teachings and religious functions, his office said. "His Holiness participated in the 'Kalachakra' (Wheel of Time) ceremony and prayed for world peace at Bodh Gaya from January 1 to 10, 2012, and his earlier visit to Bodh Gaya was from January 4 to 10, 2010," an official said.
Terming the series of blasts at Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar as "unfortunate", Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Sunday said "few individuals" could be behind the attack. "The incident is really unfortunate," he said, adding that few individuals could be responsible for the attack. The Tibetan government-in-exile said it was deeply saddened over the blasts.
"I am deeply saddened to learn about the series of bomb blasts at Mahabodhi temple. My prayers for the injured and their family members", Prime Minister of the government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay said in a statement.
Nine low-intensity blasts took place early in the morning in quick succession at the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple, annually visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world. Two monks were injured in the attack.
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