By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 29: A group of Tibetans who were having a picnic were reportedly assaulted by Chinese police in occupied Tibet’s Draggo county’s Tsogo town in Sichuan province last week without giving any explanation. The victims including an elderly sustained grave injuries and had to be rushed to a hospital in Chengdu, the provincial capital.
On Aug. 25, a group of Tibetans from Gorum village in Draggo were having a picnic on their own land when around thirty Chinese policemen arrived at the scene and assaulted the villagers. Sources say that the picnickers were surrounded by the police and asked to stand in line before assaulting them.
A source cited by Radio Free Asiasaid that “an elderly man of about 70 so badly hurt that he had to be rushed to Chengdu city for emergency attention and care,” and others with severe injuries like broken ribs and bruises.
Ten people were injured while some sustained more grievous injuries and had to be admitted to local hospitals for emergency treatment, reported Radio Free Asia.
The village head who was amongst the picnickers asked for explanation from the police but he was beaten and taken into custody.
Later the Tibetans sent appeals demanding explanation over the incident from the local authorities and copies were sent to authorities in Sichuan province and the Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the same source said. The authorities have not provided any reason for their action yet.
In February 2016, Chinese authorities announced mandatory surrender of any Dalai Lama photos on sale and stock over to authorities in the same county. Shop-keepers, who fail to comply by the set date to hand over all stocks of Dalai Lama photographs, cease sale and even display photos in shops risk to face punishment, the authorities announced.
