Dharamsala, Dec 16: Delhi Police on Thursday took at least five Tibetan protesters into preventive custody after they raised slogans outside Hyderabad House, the venue of the Sino-Indian bilateral talks, media reports said.
Police officials confirmed the detention of the Tibetans, ANI reported.
On Wednesday, Tibetans had planned to greet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who arrived on a three-day visit to the Indian capital, with massive protest rallies. Media reports said a tight security cover placed in the area had, however, dampened their efforts to an extent.
Seven Tibetan Youth Congress activists were detained on Wednesday afternoon for protesting outside the Taj Palace Hotel, where the Chinese Premier is to stay till Friday.
“We protested outside the hotel telling Wen Jiabao that Tibet does not belong to him and China should vacate it,” one of the detained protesters, Tenzin Norsang, was quoted by ANI as saying.
Tibetans also took part in a march from Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, to Jantar Mantar where they held a meeting. They chanted anti-China slogans and waved Tibetan flags, while demanding China end its illegal occupation of Tibet.
The demonstrators also carried placards that read ‘Free Tibet Wen, Free Tibet Now’.
A seminar titled “Rethinking India’s Sino-Tibet Policy” was also held in Delhi simultaneously.
According to media reports, a security blanket has been thrown across Delhi, sanitising all routes and areas that the Chinese Premier is supposed to pass through.
Media reports said commuters can expect to have a harrowing time in New Delhi and South Delhi during Premier Wen’s stay.
Police have also stepped up security outside Chinese embassy and the hotel where Premier Wen is staying to ensure that protests do not mar his visit.
According to Times of India, the special branch has deputed its officers to monitor the movement of Tibetans in several pockets in north Delhi, including Majnu Ka Tila, north campus and Timarpur.
Watch video of protest at Hyderabad House here
