Dharamsala, April 26 – China has sentenced 4 Tibetan monks of Lutsang monastery to two years’ imprisonment, according to Voice of Tibet radio service.

Citing a Tibetan monk named Khedup of Drepung monastery, the VOT said the Chinese authorities arrested 6 monks of Lutsang monastery around April 10, 2009.

However, Khedup said charges put against the four are not clear. He said the exact dates of the trial and court’s verdicts are not known.

Khedup said that the sentences were passed by Mangra County court on Kalsang Gyatso; 21, Soepa Gyatso; 24, Lungtok Gyatso; 22, and Soepa Gyatso;19. The other two were released, according to Khedup.

The four were among the 109 monks of Lutsang monastery who carried out a 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). All 109 were arrested and given severe patriotic reeducation, say Tibetan rights groups. On March 20, 103 were released and 6 continued to be held in detention. The 6 were released earlier this month.

In another incident, two other monks of Lutsang monastery, Thabkhay Gyatso and Kunchok Gyatso, were arrested by the police few days ago. They are said to be currently held at Mangra County.