By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, March 3: More than a month after Chinese security personnel opened indiscriminate fire at a crowd of unarmed Tibetans in Drango, eastern Tibet, mass arrests of Tibetans in the region are being reported.

Phayul has learned from sources in exile that around 400 Tibetans have been detained so far in connection with the January 23 mass protest in Drango which left at least five Tibetans dead and over 30 seriously injured in police firings.

Hundreds of Tibetans had come out on the streets calling for Tibet’s freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. The protests flared after local Chinese Public Security Bureau officials began to arbitrarily arrest Tibetans on suspicion of their involvement in the appearance of leaflets and posters around the town following the wave of self-immolations in the region. The posters had warned of more Tibetan self-immolations if the Chinese government did not listen to Tibetan concerns.

Earlier reports had indicated that Chinese security personnel were arresting Tibetans with the aid of photos and videos taken during the protests.

Details on the brutal killing of the two brothers, Yeshi Rigsel, 40 and Yeshi Samdup, 38 have also emerged nearly a month after Chinese security personnel hunted down and shot them at their mountain hideout.

After suffering bullet injury to his arm, Yeshi Rigsel, along with Yeshi Samdup had fled Drango town and were hiding in the mountains when Chinese security police tracked down the two brothers following a massive manhunt and killed both of them.

Source in exile have told Phayul that during the shootout, their 70-year old mother Ama Sang Lha and another brother Yonten Sangpo also suffered bullet injuries. Ama Sang Lha was shot in the arm and was later forced to undergo an amputation.

“Ama Sang Lha failed to receive proper medical treatment at the hospital and had her arm amputated,” sources said.

During the raid, Chinese security personnel confiscated three bikes and Yuan 6200 according to sources.