DHARAMSHALA, March 8: A Tibetan has been shot dead and two others have suffered bullet injuries in yet another case of police firing on unarmed Tibetans.
The shootings occurred on Tuesday, March 6 in Pema region of Golok, eastern Tibet when Chinese security personnel arrested a Tibetan named Tobwang for his alleged involvement in January anti-China protests in the region.
An exile Tibetan with contacts in the region told Phayul that Chinese security personnel opened indiscriminate fire when the gathered Tibetans tried to intervene.
“Choeri, 28, was shot in the face and died immediately,” Tsangyang Gyatso said. “Two brothers, Jamphel Lodoe and Karkho, suffered serious bullet injuries and are currently in a hospital.”
Choeri is survived by his wife and a child.
Security had been stepped up in the region and police were on the look out for Tibetans who participated in an anti-China protest on January 25. The protesters had pulled down a Chinese flag from a regional government building.
Following the protest, many Tibetans had fled their homes to avoid arrest.
Earlier, Chinese security personnel in Drango and Serthar regions of eastern Tibet had opened indiscriminate fire on unarmed Tibetans, killing and wounding scores of protesters.
Door to door searches and mass arrests of alleged protesters have been reported from other areas of Tibet as well.
Last month, Chinese security personnel hunted down and killed two brothers for taking part in an anti-China protest. During the shootout, their mother also suffered bullet injuries and later she had to amputate her arm.
Thousands of Tibetans have taken part in peaceful protests in recent week calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.
