Tibetan sect followers asked to leave Himachal Pradesh

Dharamsala, India - Tibetan followers of a little known Shugden sect, who arrived here from Tibet, have been ordered by the Himachal Pradesh police to leave within a week for fear of disturbing peace in the area, police said Friday.

In all, 16 boys aged between 13 and 18 years, arrived in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in exile on July 15 this year via Nepal for pursuing religious studies.

The Shugden sect is reportedly backed by the Chinese communist regime and is opposed to the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetans, is opposed to the worship of the 360-year-old deity Dorjee Shugden. But the young men refused to stop worshipping Shugden.

It was also alleged by the Tibetan government-in-exile that boys attended a two month religious training course at the Shugden cult centre in Nepal before entering India.

The local Tibetans reported the matter to Kangra district police who asked the Tibetans to leave for fear of disturbing peace.

'We have asked these Tibetans to leave within seven days for fear of disturbing peace in and around or face action under the foreigners act,' said Gyaneshwar Singh, Kangra district police chief.