By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, June 1: Amidst growing concerns over the security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay, tried to assuage public fear and asked Tibetans not worry about the Tibetan leader’s security.

“I urge all Tibetans to remain calm and not worry about the security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Dr Lobsang Sangay told a public gathering at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple, yesterday in the afternoon.

“The Kashag (Cabinet) has already requested the state government of Himachal Pradesh and the central government in New Delhi to kindly review and upgrade the security of the Dalai Lama,” Dr Sangay said.

Following media reports on threats to the Dalai Lama’s security from China, the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration last month had sent out a message of caution, urging all concerned people to remain “vigilant and alert.”

At a press conference addressed by the Minister for the Department of Religion and Culture Pema Chinnjor and Minister for the Department of Security, Dongchung Ngodup, the CTA had noted that the security of the Tibetan leader “is a matter of great concern.”

“Although His Holiness takes security threat to his person lightly, there are a variety of threats to his well-being that the security agencies are obliged to take it seriously,” the CTA said in its statement.

The exile administration relayed earlier reports procured from a Tibetan working for the Chinese security establishment inside Tibet that Tibetan women were being trained to poison the Dalai Lama by “applying poison to their hair and to traditional greeting scarves.”

“According to reports received from Tibet in June 2010, Chinese intelligence agencies are making concrete plans to harm His Holiness by employing well-trained agents, particularly females,” Ngodup, who is serving for a second term as the Kalon for the security department, which has the primary responsibility of ensuring the security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said.

The minister had also revealed intelligence reports on Chinese agents trying to collect “blood, urine, and hair” samples of the 76-year old Tibetan leader.

“In another report received in October 2011, it is also learnt that Chinese intelligence agencies have stepped up their clandestine efforts to collect intelligence on the status of His Holiness’s health, as well as collecting physical samples of his blood, urine and hair,” Ngodup added. “They are reportedly co-opting Tibetans inside Tibet to visit India with the intention of seeking an audience with him to this end.”

Phayul had earlier reported that the security of the Dalai Lama is scheduled to be reviewed shortly with an expected upgrade of technology and equipments to detect harmful chemicals.