By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, July 29: Around forty Tibetans were detained and several others injured following a clash between Tibetans and Chinese authorities over the death of a Tibetan man in a road accident in Dharlak County in Golog, Qinghai Province, reported the US funded Radio Free Asia.
The conflict began when the local Tibetans alleged the Chinese police of being “unfair” in handling of a road accident case in which a Tibetan man named Sophey was killed on July 23. Sophey died on the spot after being hit by a truck driven by a Chinese man.
Sources claim that the police released the truck driver after payment of 50000 Yuan as penalty and agreeing to look after the children of the deceased until the age of eighteen.
Disappointed with the Chinese authorities for their handling of the case, the local Tibetans last Friday visited the Police station to demand explanation for the truck driver’s release. This led to a clash between the local Tibetans and Chinese authorities causing injuries to both sides.
However, with the arrival of more number of armed police, the Tibetans were outnumbered by the Chinese and were severely beaten. Relatives of the victim were also beaten up. The authorities detained 40 Tibetans of whom twenty were later released and taken to a hospital for treatment.
The same source said the situation in Dharlak County is tense with deployment of large number of armed forces as authorities restrict movement and communication in the area.
