DHARAMSHALA, June 30: A Tibetan man was arrested by Chinese security forces for holding a public protest, carrying pictures of Tibetan self-immolators, in the beleaguered Ngaba region of Amdo, eastern Tibet.

Tsering Dhondrup, 23, a native of Amo, called for Tibet’s freedom and the release of political prisoners during his lone protest earlier this month.

According to sources in New York, who have contacts in the region, Dhondrup was carrying a banner with pictures of Tibetans who have self-immolated in Tibet as he shouted slogans. “The protest lasted for nearly 25 minutes until Dhondrup was arrested by police,” the sources said.

The same sources added that Dhondrup might be released this week after suffering torture and severe beatings in a Chinese prison in the region.

Although the reason for his “uncharacteristically short” detention is not known but locals believe Dhondrup may have sustained serious beatings while in captivity and the authorities are “avoiding responsibility by releasing him.”

Last week, Jigme Dolma, a 17-year-old Tibetan girl was arrested and brutally beaten by Chinese security forces after she carried out a protest in Kardze, eastern Tibet against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. She is believed to be in a critical condition with major injuries to her limbs.

Since 2009, 42 Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom in Tibet and the return of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama from exile.

Unconfirmed reports of self-immolation

In unconfirmed reports, a Tibetan woman in Keygudo, Kham set herself on fire on June 27, exactly a week after two young Tibetans, Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup self-immolated.

“A Tibetan girl in Kham Keygudo set herself on fire at around 4 in the evening (local time) on Wednesday,” the Beijing based Tibetan blogger Woeser tweeted yesterday.

The Tibetan woman is believed to in a hospital right now. There are no further details available.

“Chinese authorities are trying to wipe out the incident but many people have already witnessed the burning of Tibetan girl,” Woeser said, adding that the entire Keygudo town is being blocked by a large number of armed Chinese soldiers.