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Seemingly not content with the oppression of peaceful protest and enforcing a censorship designed to appease China, the Indian authorities’ decision to close a legitimate and just hunger strike, to expose China’s genocidal occupation of Tibet, nearly cost the lives of the three Tibetan activists currently under arrest in New Delhi by Indian police, who we understand are continuing their hunger-strike in Tihar jail.

“New Delhi, 5th Sept, 2012–Day 3 of the Indefinite hunger strike bears even more peril for our three hunger strikers as late last night they were taken to Tihar jail where the authorities did not accept to have them there and sent them back to the Tuqhlaq Police station at 2.30am.

The bus ride which took them back to the police station turned out to be a nightmare resulting in incident where the three protestors were seriously injured. Dhondup Lhadar, TYC’s VP, one of the hunger strikers, had two of his teeth knocked out of its foundation, his mouth and tongue were cut badly causing massive bleeding. His hands and legs were also injured badly from the ride. Penpa Tsering, Organizational Secretary of TYC, also participating in the indefinite hunger strike, injured his nose and lost a lot of blood. He also got effected in his hands and feet, due to the dangerous behaviour of the driver. Jigme Sholpa, Cultural Secretary of TYC, also one of the three hunger strikers, was hurt in his hands and legs. The Police authorities, inspite of being aware of the incident of the bus ride and the accident, ignored the injured state of those who were in their custody and did not even provide any medical help.

At around 12.30pm in the afternoon, some of the TYC members and supporters took the hunger strikers to the hospital for medical check up and to get them proper treatment. The doctor diagnosed the condition of the three men and offered to give them the required treatment but all of them decided not to go with it. They believed that the injections and the IVs being inserted into their bodies would hamper with their oath to not intake any food until the demands and appeals have been met. They simply left the hospital in the same condition they came in.

At around the same time, Tenzing Norsang, Joint Secretary of TYC, held a press conference in their regional office of Majnu ka Tilla, Tibetan colony in New Delhi. He briefed the media about the events of the previous night and explained the situation to them in detail. He shared that they were hurt and disappointed with the way the Indian government and the authorities have treated them ending up by causing physical injury to the hunger strikers. TYC declared that they are not going to stop their activities, however worse the situation turns. They will continue with the hunger strike until they achieve what they had set out to do. This was followed by a Question and Answer session with the media. All the TYC members and supporters along with the hunger strikers, went to the Court of Magistrate on Parliament street to update them with what had transpired the previous night and were sent to Tihar Jail around 3.20 PM.” Report courtesy of Tibetan Youth Congress