Dharamsala, February 11
The police today lathicharged a group of Tibetan Youth Congress peace marchers who were on the way to New Delhi to participate in Tibetan Uprising Day, to be celebrated on March 10. The police even did not spare nuns, monks and elderly Tibetans, including Dorje (81).
Tibetans every year lead a month-long peace march from McLeodganj to New Delhi. The march passes through various towns and villages.
Today nearly 80 participants, including 20 nuns, gathered at the main temple complex. Interestingly, the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ms Chandresh Kumari, also visited the venue and unofficially blessed marchers.
A police contingent led by the Additional SP Mr Santosh Patial, and the Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Rakesh Sharma, reached the temple and asked the marchers to disperse. According to them, no permission has been obtained for the march and directions from the Government of India clearly prohibit such march this year. Despite these orders, the marchers continued their march, they said.
As the marchers reached Kotwali Bazaar, the police stopped them which led to heated arguments among marchers led by the vice-president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Mr Samphel Tenzin.
According to eyewitnesses, when Samphel and other Tibetans were arguing with officials , some policemen dragged Samphel and started beating him up. They stopped assaulting him when he fell down. In the meantime, the police resorted to lathicharge on Tibetans and physically dragged nuns, monks and elderly marchers. Even 81 years old Dorje was not spared and received blows on the head and body. The police also rounded up all participants.
A policeman snatched the camera of ANI cameraman Hemant, which was returned later when the SP, Kangra, Mr Z. S.H. Zaidi, was contacted at Shimla.
A former vice-chairman of the Tibetan Assembly of Deputies and a member of the present Assembly, Mr Karma Chophel, and another MP, Mr Dawa Tsering, who rushed to the police station, criticised the police action and termed it as unfortunate.
According to them, the practice to organise march was old and the administration should not have taken such harsh action. A large crowd of Tibetans later gathered in front of the police station where all participants of the march were detained and staged a dharna. They blocked traffic for more than one hour.
The Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, reached the spot and held discussions with the Transport Minister, Mr G.S. Bali. Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Bali and Prof Rinpoche denied that any lathicharge took place.
