GANGTOK, December 26 — Apart from infiltrations along the Nepal border, Tibetans from Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) have been coming into India to seek political asylum and a darshan of the Dalai Lama via the high mountains of Sikkim. Some get in, but not all are lucky.
Recently, a pair of Tibetans from TAR was apprehended by the Indian army posted at the border areas of Sikkim while they were trying to enter into India via Sikkim. Interestingly, a Chinese national has also been reportedly apprehended by the vigilant Indian army. The two Tibetans were caught in North Sikkim while the Chinese was apprehended in East Sikkim in a separate incident. According to reports, the middle aged Chinese was apprehended at Lungthung, East Sikkim on 19 December by the army and brought to Kupup on 20 December.
It is suspected that he crossed the border into Sikkim from Dongchui La pass from Chumbi Valley. The Chinese national has reportedly denied the allegations. It is also presumed that the Chinese national had crossed over the border while on a hunting trip from the Donkarla region across the border. Army barracks are being constructed by China in the Donkarla region where both Chinese and Tibetans from TAR are employed.
In another incident, 12 Grenadiers personals posted at the Northern border of Sikkim apprehended two young Tibetans at Lachung, North Sikkim.
The duo, Urgen Palden, 19 and Lobsang Tashi, 20 are both from Central Tibet. According to reports, the duo had crossed the border at Thankarla in North Sikkim on 16 December. They were apprehended on 17 December and brought down to Chungthang for further interrogation.
They had crossed into Sikkim and India with the objective of seeking political asylum and the pair has also voiced a desire to see the Dalai Lama as well as to seek proper monastic education. Incidentally, about 5 youths from TAR have been apprehended by the Indian army so far this year. The normal practice adopted by the army is to interrogate them for a few days and then send them back to Tibet. Such procedure is likely to be followed in case of the Tibetans this time too. However, it is not known how the Chinese national will be dealt with.
