DHARAMSHALA, October 4: In reports coming out of Tibet, another Tibetan man has set himself on fire today in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet, taking Tibet’s self-immolation toll to 53.

Sources from inside Tibet, using a popular phone interface programme, have said that Gudrub, 43, torched himself in Nagchu town in central Tibet at around 10 am (local time). He is believed to have passed away at the site of his protest.

Dharamshala based Tibetan language new portal, Tibet Express, in a report cited eyewitnesses as saying that Gudrup raised slogans for Tibet’s freedom and the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama before setting himself on fire.

“Eyewitnesses have said that Gudrup shouted, “Wherever we go, we have no freedom,” “Freedom for Tibet,” “Let His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to Tibet,” before setting himself on fire,” the report said.

At the time of reporting, Gudrup’s body has not been handed over to his family members.

Before carrying out his self-immolation protest, Gudrup left a last message addressed to all Tibetans calling for unity and pride in one's race on qq.com, China’s largest online network.

“My brothers and sisters of the land of snows, although, looking back at our past, we have nothing but a sense of loss, anger, sadness, and tears, I pray that the coming new year of the Water Dragon brings you health, success, and the fulfillment of aspirations,” Gudrup writes.

“We must distinguish and give prominence to our pride in ourselves as a people and even in the face of loss and suffering, must never lose our courage and spirit in our endeavour to uphold our unity.”

Gudrup is a native of Driru in Kham eastern Tibet and was a writer who read extensively on Tibet’s history.