Police foil immolation bid by Tibetan youth in Dharamsala
A self-immolation bid by a Tibetan youth was on Sunday
foiled by police in Dharamsala during a march to mark the anniversary of
the failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.
The
Tibetan youth, Dawa Dhondup (30) allegedly drank petrol and also poured
it over himself before trying to set himself ablaze during the 54th
Tibetan Uprising Day march in Dharamsala, the seat of Tibetan
government-in-exile.
However, he was immediately
overpowered and stopped by policemen on duty and was rushed to hospital
in critical condition, Kangra SP, Balbir Singh Thakur said.
He could not set himself ablaze but his condition was serious as he had drunk petrol, he added.
“Such
incident never happened in Dharamsala though Tibetans used to
demonstrate several times. Keeping in view this incident, it shall now
be difficult for the police to allow them to hold procession and
demonstration,” he said.
Every year, Tibetan exiles in India mark the anniversary of the failed March 10, 1959, uprising with speeches and marches.
As
many as 107 self-immolations have been reported in Tibetan areas since
2009 and 90 of them have died, with the protesters calling for the
return of the Tibetans’ spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
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