New Delhi, April 2.

The Dalai Lama has reached safety on Indian soil, foiling the tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and paratroops who tried to hunt him down, according to diplomatic sources here to-night. The sources said the Tibetan ruler will be granted asylum by the Indian Government.

Paratroops join hunt for Dalai Lama: from the archive, 1 April 1959 Read more

The first news came from the Chinese Communists themselves. The New China News Agency said he entered India on Tuesday and Indian border authorities had left Tawang, in the North-east Frontier Agency of Assam, to meet him. Tawang is 18 miles south of the Tibetan border and almost due south of Lhasa.

Mr Nehru, the Indian Prime Minister, to-day summoned a hurried “top secret” meeting of the central parliamentary board of his Congress party. It was understood that delicate issues regarding Tibet were discussed – and political observers took this to mean the Dalai Lama. Party officials however, said all who took part were sworn to strict secrecy.

Official spokesmen in New Delhi to-night declined to confirm or deny the Chinese report. One senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs said: “I cannot say ‘ yes’ or ‘no.’ We are waiting for confirmation.” He did say, however, that no permits would be issued to Indian or foreign correspondents to visit the North-east Frontier Agency and the Assam Government issued a communiqué saying that they had “no information” on the reported crossing.

In constant touch

The diplomatic sources reporting that the Dalai Lama had reached Indian territory said they believed his arrival became known to the Indian Government late yesterday or early to-day. Delhi had been in constant communication with Peking over the past few days. The exchanges were reported to have been mild in tone. Mr Nehru wanted to make it clear to the Chinese that while India felt bound to give at least temporary asylum to the Dalai Lama, this should not be construed by China in any way as an unfriendly act.

The Dalai Lama’s younger brother, Gyalo Thondup, who had come here with a delegation of Tibetans, left Delhi suddenly yesterday morning by air for Calcutta. It is believed that he is on his way to meet the Dalai Lama on the North-east Frontier Agency.

Dalai Lama's emotional reunion with guard who aided flight from Tibet Read more

On March 31

The Chinese agency report broadcast by Peking Radio, said:

“It is learned that the Dalai Lama, under duress by rebellious elements, has entered India. United States and British journalists are trying to interview him. The Dalai Lama and others arrived in India on March 31. Indian border Police authorities have left Tawang to meet him. A United Press International correspondent is on his way to the Indian border for an early meeting with the Dalai Lama. A Reuters correspondent is also trying to get there.” British United Press had no confirmation of the last paragraph.

The 23-year-old ruler is said to have left his capital, Lhasa, on March 17, seven days after the Tibetan revolt began and two days before the Chinese garrison in the capital was attacked. The Chinese claim he was “blatantly abducted” by the rebels.

Chinese heavy guns have been pounding the rebels since yesterday in renewed fighting in Tibet, according to other reports reaching Kalimpong. The targets were pockets of Khamba tribesmen about 25 miles south of Lhasa. This followed reports that China was transporting thousands of troops into Tibet by air to cope with further trouble.

The rebels are said to be in full control of a 30,000-square mile area stretching 400 miles eastwards from Natartse, 65 miles south-west of Lhasa, to Lho Dzong, south of the Brahmaputra river. The reports in Kalimpong say that the Chinese are deporting Tibetans from Lhasa at a rate of one hundred lorryloads a day, presumably for forced labour in Western Tibet.

Read more about the Dalai Lama reaching India in the following day’s Guardian:

New Dalai Lama enthroned: from the archive, 23 February 1940 Read more