The historic bilateral meet between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in South India was marked by arrests of Tibet activists from all parts of India. Even before the arrival of Xi, arrests of prominent Tibetan activists began in India and the arrests continued till the end of the two day meet.
Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram police on October 5th night arrested the noted Tibetan writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue in Kottakuppam, less than hundred kilometers away from the iconic Tamil Nadu town of Mamallapuram, which hosted the three-day summit between Chinese President Xi-Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Friday and Saturday.
As the bilateral meet between the two Asian biggies unfurled, all Tibetan activists quickly fell into hands of Indian police. While many Tibetan students were kept under house arrest in Chennai, Tibetan Youth Congress activists were taken into custody from Bengaluru International Airport itself. Activists struggling to make their voices heard even from the far north national capital of New Delhi were too silenced. In fact, India did not want to upset the Chinese president with any scene of Tibetan protesters during his visit to India!
Post Xi’s schedule in India, he was headed for the maiden visit to Nepal. In a similar manner, the Nepal police were very wary of Tibet activists. According to Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, five persons were arrested from Swoyambhu, nine from Bouddha, six from Pharping and two from an undisclosed location in Kathmandu. Police said those arrested from Bouddha were wearing track suits with ‘Free Tibet’ slogan. Others were carrying Tibetan flags and bags with ‘Free Tibet’ slogans.
Eleven of those arrested were Tibetan refugees while others were Nepalis, according to police as reported by the Himalayan Times on Sunday.
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