E-Paper
Spy fear: CTA steps up security, issues advisory to officials
The detention of “suspected Chinese spy” from Dharamsala that invigorated the exiled community's fears of large-scale “infiltration” by dragon's undercover agents in this hill town has put the Tibetan government in-exile on high alert.
The detention of “suspected Chinese spy” from Dharamsala that invigorated the exiled community's fears of large-scale “infiltration” by dragon's undercover agents in this hill town has put the Tibetan government in-exile on high alert.
The security wing of the Tibetan government in-exile has cautioned all high officials of different departments and the office of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to be more vigilant.
The local police had detained a Tibetan-origin man Penpa Tsering on suspicion of spying on Wednesday evening.
In the wake of renewed qualms, the exiled government's security wing has stepped up vigil on new escapees coming to India.
Sources in the Tibetan government in-exile maintained that Chinese intelligence agencies were keeping a track on the activities of the Tibetan government and non government organisations that are at forefront of the campaign to secure freedom for China-administered Tibet.
“The Chinese government has become more wary of the Tibetans after self-immolation protests,” felt a senior official of the Tibetan security.
China had blamed the Dalai Lama and his “clique” for orchestrating protest in Tibet that saw over 100 Tibetans setting themselves ablaze demanding freedom.
“In wake of the recent espionage and terror plot attempt by China, we have beefed up security in our offices and issued advisory to our high officials to be judicious while meeting unknown people and avoid eating with them,” said Ngodup Dorjee, secretary of the Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) security department.
“CTA will also be installing CCTV cameras at its different offices,” he said, adding that whatever additional information they were getting about the “suspected spy” is being shared with the Dharamsala police.
The exiled government had yesterday claimed that Tsering was a People's Liberation Army (PLA) member fully trained in intelligence tradecrafts and physical combat, including weapon handling.
The CTA has also alleged that he was part of terror plot hatched by Chinese security agencies to poison two Tibetan youths - Tashi Gyaltsen and Karma Yeshi - to spread chaos and terror.
He was allegedly collecting intelligence on health of the Dalai Lama and activities of CTA and other Tibetan NGOs based here.
Police clueless over 'spy's' China link
Meanwhile, the Dharamsala police and the Intelligence Bureau remained clueless over Penpa Tsering's China link even after three days of interrogation.
Kangra superintendent of police Balbir Thakur said, “The suspect has admitted that he was a member of PLA, but is denying to have involved in spying or links with Chinese officials.” “His version is that he was disturbed over the immense brutality to which Tibetan community was being subjected by the Chinese authority and left his job in the Army before escaping to India,” said Thakur.
A special team of the police is investigating the validity of the Indian voter ID card and Aadhaar card recovered from his possession. Both the cards bear the same photo, but different names.
