Bihar: Chinese Woman Who Raised Security Concerns Amid Dalai Lama's Visit Detained, To Be Sent To China

A Chinese woman whose presence in Bihar's Bodh Gaya at the time of the Dalai Lama's visit raised security concerns has been caught, said Bihar Police.

The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is on a three-day visit of Bodh Gaya, a city holy to Buddhists as it's here Gautam Buddha had enlightenment.

Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harpreet Kaur told PTI the foreign national was picked up from a guest house at Maharani Road in Bodh Gaya and she turned out to be an ardent follower of the Buddhist preacher.  

She said, "A search was launched for her after an intimation from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO) at Kolkata that she had violated visa norms that allowed her to stay for not more than 90 days at a stretch. She has been in India since October 2019. She went to Nepal in January 2020 for four days and upon return to India, settled in McLeod Ganj."

The Chinese woman came to Bodh Gaya on December 22, coinciding with the Dalai Lama's visit to the international pilgrimage centre. 

Kaur further said, "She was accompanied by another woman from Nepal whom she had met in Dharamshala. The Nepalese woman has also been taken into custody for interrogation."

Kaud added that the Chinese national's visa has been cancelled by FRRO, Kolkata and she has been slapped with a "Leave India" notice and, accordingly, she will be sent to Delhi for repatriation.

The Dalai Lama along with several thousands of his followers escaped from Tibet to India in 1959. Since then, he has lived in exile in India. The Chinese government considers him a separatist leader. 

The Government-in-Exile of Tibet has earlier said that the Chinese are actively working to harm the Dalai Lama, including through the use of females. 

"Chinese intelligence agencies are making concrete plans to harm His Holiness by employing well-trained agents, particularly females," said the Government-in-Exile of Tibet, formally called the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), in 2013. 

The CTA said although the Dalai Lama "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". It also said "the security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a matter of great concern".

It said in a statement, "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. It is also learnt that they are exploring the possibility of harming him by using ultra-modern and highly sophisticated drugs and poisonous chemicals.

"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' health, as well as collecting physical samples of his blood, urine, and hair. They are reportedly co-opting Tibetans inside Tibet to visit India with the intention of seeking an audience with him to this end."

(With PTI inputs)