New Delhi: The Indian government has granted Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama a Z-category security cover, citing potential threats to his safety, official sources confirmed on Thursday.

The Union Home Ministry has tasked the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) VIP security wing with ensuring the 89-year-old leader’s protection. Under the new arrangement, CRPF commandos will provide round-the-clock security to Dalai Lama across the country.

Previously, his security was managed by the Himachal Pradesh Police, with additional protection from local authorities when he traveled to Delhi or other locations. However, following a recent review by central intelligence agencies, the government has decided to extend a uniform security cover nationwide, a senior official said.

A team of approximately 30 CRPF commandos will now be deployed in shifts to safeguard the exiled Tibetan leader, reinforcing his security measures significantly.

Dalai Lama has been living in India since 1959 after fleeing Tibet under Chinese rule. Over the years, intelligence reports have suggested possible threats from various entities, including China-backed actors, making his safety a critical concern for Indian authorities.

Though he stepped down as the political head of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011—a body China refuses to recognise—Dalai Lama has expressed a long-standing wish to return to Tibet before his death.

(WIth inputs from PTI)