By Phurbu Thinley

Dharamsala, April 21: For fear of arrest and torture by Chinese police, a Tibetan monk named Shedup is said to have committed suicide at a monastery in Amdo Rebgong, in Qinghai Province, earlier this month, a report on the official website of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile said Tuesday.

The report said Shedup, aged around 40, committed suicide at a monastery in Rebgong (Ch: Tongren) in Malho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province), around April 2.

The name of the monastery where he committed suicide is still unknown, but it is believed to be Tarjang monastery located in Dowadhog. The other monastery in the area is known as Pengya, the report said. (Tarjang, Dowadhog & Pengya spelled as pronounced in Tibetan)

According to the report, Shedup was earlier arrested for his alleged role in a protest in Rebgong in March last year and was severely beaten and tortured in custody.

The report said he was later released, but his name appeared again on a wanted list of Tibetans to be arrested sometime before the Tibetan National Uprising Day last month.

The report said Shedup finally killed himself to escape arrest and torture by Chinese Public Security Bureau officials.

According to the report, Shedup had visited India to “pursue studies as a part of his post-retirement spiritual quest” at Lubum Khangtsen, Gaden Jangtse Monastery in South India. He later returned to Tibet via Nepal in 2006, the report said.