By Kalsang Rinchen

Dharamsala, March 20 – Out the 109 monks of Lutsang monastery earlier arrested for carrying out peaceful protest march from Lamo Yongzin Phodrang (spelled as pronounced)to the Mangra county government headquarters on the first day of the Tibetan new year (Losar) 103 were released today, reported Voice of Tibet radio service. 6 monks are still held in custody, the VOT reported, citing a source in Drepung monastery in south India.

The source identified the 6 monks still held in detention as Jamyang Sherab, Jamyang Ngodup, Jamyang Khenrab, Lungtok, Thabkhey Gyatso and Kunsang.

“They are not designated staffers of the monastery’s administration but senior monks in terms of monastic education so I think they are suspected of leading the protest March on the Tibetan new year,” the source was quoted as saying.

According to the source, the 109 monks of Lutsang monastery were taken to a school where they were subjected to severe patriotic reeducation.

Chinese authorities have ordered monks from outside Mangra county to return to their homes, the source said, adding that almost half of the monks of Lutsang monastery were from other counties.

Uniformed and plain clothed police are constantly combing the area including homes of civilians who are told that the separatists forces of the Dalai Lama are plotting to poison their drinking water, the source said.