By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, September 17: Around sixty Tibetan students including 25 women studying in Maharaja Sayaji Rao university, Vadodara, have been detained by the Gujarat police as preemptive measure as Chinese president Xi Jinping arrived in Ahmedabad earlier today.
Speaking to Phayul, Tenzin Tophel, President of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Baroda, said “Four days ago, the students had planned to hold a protest in Ahmedabad on the day of Chinese President’s arrival in the state. When we spoke with Police to seek permission, they said we would be allowed to carry out a protest at a designated area away from the venue of Xi and Modi but that we have to make identity cards.”
Police arrived at the MS University residential halls area yesterday saying that they have come to make the identity card for students. “However, they locked us up in a big hall. Later some police vans arrived to take the students away but we refused to go with them, they even manhandled our students,” added Tophel.
This is Xi’s first visit to India since he became President a year ago.
Tophel further added that it is not known where they are currently detained. “While in detention, the students said prayers in honor of all the Tibetan martyrs who have lost their lives for the cause and will sit on a hunger strike until they are all released.”
The students are likely to be released after Chinese President leaves the state.
