At a joint news conference held in Dharamsala on May 20, Kalon Pema Chhinjor, Department of Religion and Culture and acting Kalon Tripa, and Kalon Ngodup Dongchung, Department of Security, said that threats to the Dalai Lama’s life are being taken seriously by security agencies and steps are being taken to foil any possible attempts on his life, including through “drugs and poisonous chemicals.” In a recent interview with a British newspaper, the Dalai Lama said that his security officials received reports from inside Tibet that Tibetan women were being trained to poison him by applying poison to their hair and to Khatag scarves. He also mentioned that the concerned security agencies have taken his security very seriously since his first arrival in India.
The Kalons urged all Tibetans to remain vigilant and alert, and assured the Tibetan public that the protection of the Dalai Lama is a matter of the greatest importance and that all the necessary steps are being taken, and that there was no cause for concern.