Uttarakhand Police maintain strict vigil over Tibetan refugees post Karmapa Lama controversy

Dehradun, Feb 6 (ANI): Post the money laundering case featuring Tibetan leader Karmapa Lama, the police authorities in Uttarakhand's Dehradun city are maintaining strict vigil on the credentials of the Tibetans-in-exile in the region.

Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) G. S. Martolia said that they are maintaining full records of the Tibetan residents in the region.

"See, all the Tibetans residing in Dehradun, they are all registered with us. All of them possess legal passport. And those who visit from outside to meet their relatives or for some work, we maintain data of them as well," said Martolia.

"They inform us about their arrival. And according to the Act, within 24-hours of their arrival, they have to inform us. And we keep all information about the Tibetans who are either living or visiting here," he added.

Meanwhile, D. N. Pandey, a local journalist and expert on Tibetan matters, said that activities of the Tibetans-in-exile in India should be kept under scanner.

"The Government of India should immediately take some action and inspect their monasteries. The large scale sale or purchase of property or any other commercial activities undertaken by them should be stopped," said Pandey.

Authorities are probing a suspected plan of Karmapa Lama to buy land and establish China-friendly institutions across the Himalayan region.

A couple of days ago, Himachal Pradesh police had raided the monastery of the Karmapa Lama, and recovered a huge sum of foreign currency of at least 25 countries, estimated as being worth 60 million rupees.

A three-member police team also grilled the Karmapa Lama over the source of the funds.

Karmapa Lama lives in exile along with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, the centre of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile.

Karmapa Lama is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and is the third most important leader in Tibetan hierarchy after the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.

He is widely tipped by many to lead the Tibetan movement in exile after the Dalai Lama. (ANI)