Even as brief newspaper reports appeared, the Chinese embassy spokesmen in New Delhi did not bother to take note or react. Even if the ostensible targets here were emigre Tibetans and the Dalai Lama, official sources were worried by the escalation of what they felt were Chinese covert activities in the region. Of late, the exodus of oppressed Tibetans leaving their homeland has dropped to a trickle, thanks to better border surveillance by the authorities. As an official pointed out: "These days it takes real commitment or determination to escape. " But only last year Sherring and Gyatso crossed over into Sikkim under the guise of 'Tibetan' monks. Although both Sherring and Gyatso reported to the Tibetan Reception Committee in Sikkim, something about the pair raised suspicions. To begin with, both were young and in relatively good health, there being no suggestion of the arduous climbs undertaken. On a hunch, in April last year, the pair was put under surveillance. And the six-month vigil paid off. It was found that often under the pretext of visiting Dharamshala, the headquarters of the Dalai Lama, they went to Nepal instead, where they reported regularly to Chinese embassy officials. Some messages were also seized from them. Later, based on their interrogation, five other people were rounded indicating the depth and extent of Chinese infiltration of the emigre Tibetan network.