Chinese spy was running Rs 1,000 cr hawala racket

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Earlier arrests

— This is not for the first time that the Chinese spy has been arrested for trying to collect information regarding the Dalai Lama.

— In 2008, Ley Xuan, who was also allegedly associated with PLA, was arrested from Rakkar area of Dharamsala. He was also allegedly collecting vital information regarding the Dalai Lama.

— In 2013, a suspected Chinese spy, Pema Tsering was arrested from McLeodganj area.

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 23

The arrest of a Chinese spy, Chang Guan Ju who had taken up the name of Charlie Pang, from Delhi in August this year has once again brought spotlight on the security of the Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual leader of Tibetans who reside in McLeodganj.

The investigations by Delhi police have revealed that Charlie Pang, who was associated with People Liberation Army (PLA) of China, was running Rs 1,000 crores hawala racket. He was allegedly sending money through shell companies and 40 bank accounts to various people, including monks in Tibetan settlements in Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka to collect vital information regarding the Dalai Lama.

Police detained a Chinese lady Lan Hoo who was staying in Himachal and a person Sonu Bangtoo who were allegedly tracking the movements and collecting vital information about the Dalai Lama allegedly at behest of Charlie Pang.

Though 85-year-old Dalai Lama devolved his temporal authority over the Tibetan government in exile to the elected leadership in 2011, he remains as symbol of Tibetan resistance despite the fact he fled into exile in India in the year 1959. He is protected by three tier security in Dharamsala, including Himachal police personnel and a group of Tibetans comprising about 150 men.

It was not for the first time that the Chinese spy has been arrested for trying to collect information regarding the Dalai Lama. In 2008, Ley Xuan, who was also allegedly associated with PLA, was arrested from Rakkar area of Dharamsala. He was also allegedly collecting vital information regarding the Dalai Lama. In 2013, a suspected Chinese spy, Pema Tsering was arrested from McLeodganj area.

In 2008 the security of the Dalai Lama had sought funds from Ministry of External Affairs (MoEA) for installing chemical detection instrument at the palace of the Dalai Lama in McLeodganj. The equipment was sought as it was suspected as some Chinese spy might try to poison the Dalai Lama with hair laced with poison.

There were apprehensions that Chinese agencies might be using the followers of Shungden sect to spy on the Dalai Lama. Shugden sect followers worship the spirit of Dorjee Shugden. The worship of Dorjee Shugden was banned by the Dalai Lama as it was against the tenants of Buddhism. The followers of the sect keep on spreading propaganda against the Dalai Lama and the security agencies suspect that they might be involved in spying over the Dalai Lama.

The security agencies are also wary of moles in Tibetan community in exile residing in various settlements across India who might be on net of the Chinese intelligence agencies.

The security of the Dalai Lama has been tightened by the Himachal police after the recent arrest of Chinese spy from Delhi. The Dalai Lama has remained indoors and has not met anyone since the outbreak of Covid pandemic.

The arrest of Chinese spy had evoked strong reaction from Tibetan government in exile. CTA deputy speaker, Acharya Yeshi Phunsok, in a statement issued here, said that Chinese nationals should never be trusted. The Chinese had come here for trade but were involved in spying over the Dalai Lama. “We are already alert on Chinese spies. Whenever we organize program Chinese spies come in form of media persons. Though we know about them we cannot take action as they have valid visa from the Government of India,” he had said.