Tibetans try to storm hotel hosting Chinese president; held

PTI

New Delhi, 28 Mar 2012: A group of protesting Tibetans today attempted to storm a five-star hotel where Chinese president Hu Jintao is staying but were detained by police who also picked up several other activists from the capital.

 

Eleven activists were picked up from near Oberoi Hotel this afternoon while eight girls were prevented from proceeding towards the facility where Hu Jintao, who is in Delhi to attend BRICS summit, is staying.

 

Security cover around the hotel has been strengthened and a senior police official said 15 companies of police have been spread across the VVIP areas of the capital to thwart any protest by Tibetans.

 

Several Tibetans were picked up from other parts of the capital, including Jantar Mantar and Majnu ka Tila. Police presence in Majnu ka Tila, a Tibetan colony, has also been increased and Tibetans were not allowed to assemble there.

 

At RML hospital where a Tibetan protester, who set himself ablaze two days ago, died this morning, police tightened security at the RML facility. "Who knows they might start a protest anywhere, so we have been asked to stay on the alert all around the hospital and inside, till the body is not released from the hospital," a policeman stationed at the hospital said.

 

A Tibetan who was waiting at the hospital said, "Many of our fellow Tibetans who were assembled at the Jantar Mantar for a prayer meeting for Yeshi were detained. I escaped and came here.

 

"I saw policemen questioning those having features like us assuming them to be Tibetans before entering the hospital gates. The journalist of a web portal, Phayul.com, a website that publishes news and views on Tibet has also been detained," he said.