Dalai Lama's Security Beefed Up
(Times of India | Gaya | January 12, 2002)
Security for Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists has further been tightened following the killing of Suang Bong, the Korean engineer at Dhungeshwari, five km from the Tibetan monastery, where the high-risk spiritual leader is staying.
According to police sources greater vigil is being now maintained around the Tibetan monastery and patrolling in and around Bodh Gaya has further been intensified.
On Friday afternoon, His Holiness made an unscheduled visit to the main Buddhist shrine, the Mahabodhi temple, where he offered special prayers for about two hours. Security officials were taken by surprise by the unscheduled prayer, as, according to the detailed programme, the holy man was not to make any public appearance till Sunday when he has to leave for a three day tour of Rajgir and Nalanda.
While the unscheduled movement of the highly protected dignitary gave some anxious moments to security officials, Dalai's followers were glad to have a surprise darshan during his movement between the Mahabodhi shrine and the Tibetan monastery.
In another interesting development, the tour programme of Karmapa, another spiritual leader of the Buddhists, has been rescheduled. Karmapa, who was earlier scheduled to arrive in Bodh Gaya on January 17, would now visit the place seven days later, on January 24. Though no official explanation has been given for the rescheduling of the Karmapa programme, it is believed to be linked to the scenario after the Dhungeshwari incident.
Friends of Tibet (INDIA),
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