Dalai Lama spends night in Maoist-hit district in Orissa

The Dalai Lama spent Monday night in the Maoist-infested Gajapati district in southern Orissa. Even though the Tibetan spiritual leader has not been accorded state guest status, security has been beefed up for his four-day visit.

“The Dalai Lama comes under the Z category. We have taken all precautions. Combing operations are on against Maoists in Gajapati district,” Gajapati superintendent of police Sanjeeb Arora said. He admitted there was a Maoist threat to his life.

On his arrival in Orissa, the Dalai Lama urged Maoists to shun violence. Ahead of his visit, the Maoists on Sunday night killed two villagers in Koraput district.

Despite the terror threat, the Dalai Lama continued to attend functions. On Tuesday, he inaugurated a monastery at Chandragiri in Gajapati. The Centre on Tuesday called a high-level meeting in New Delhi to formulate plans to deal with the Maoists.

The meeting formulated strategy to deal with a change in Maoist strategy. The Maoists are now targeting school buildings, hostels and hospitals.

At the meeting, Orissa home secretary AP Padhi demanded more forces and funds for the operations against the Maoists. The Centre decided to provide five battalions to the state to start combing operations against the rebels.