DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 11: More Tibetans have been arrested ahead of the visit of Chinese President’s visit in Chennai on Friday as activists and students were picked up by the Tamil Nadu police at the Chennai airport and the ITC Grand Chola where Xi Jinping is scheduled to stay.
12 Tibetans have been arrested near the ITC Grand Chola hotel at the little mount area in Guindy where the Chinese President is to be hosted ahead of the bilateral summit with Indian PM Narendra Modi. Among the arrested is also the President of the activist group Tibetan Youth Congress, Gonpo Dhondup who is currently being held at the Guindy police station.
Additionally, 3 students have also been arrested inside the Chennai airport’s arrival lounge after they flew in from New Delhi to coincide with the Chinese President’s arrival at the same airport, according to TYC Secretary Sonam Tsering who spoke to Phayul via phone.
Xi Jinping arrived in Chennai around 2 pm local time for the second informal talks with his Indian counterpart. The two will hold a two-day bilateral talks at the coastal town to Mamallappuram from 11-12 October.
Earlier this week, 34 Tibetan activists and students were arrested in the city. The total number of arrested Tibetans has now jumped to 49. Also, prominent Tibetan activist and poet Tenzin Tsundue was arrested last Saturday evening in Viluppuram, Tamil Nadu.
On Thursday, the Core Group for Tibetan Cause Towards, the apex Tibet support group in India said it strongly condemns such illicit show of power and administrative machinery that crushes the common people’s voice against prevailing injustices and urges the concerned State Government to release those Tibetan students or people immediately.
