Modi-Xi Meet: Tibetan Independence Activists Arrested in Chennai

Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue and nine others have been arrested ahead of Modi-Xi meet in Chennai.

Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue (right) and nine others have been arrested ahead of Modi-Xi meet in Chennai.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Days ahead of the bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, the state police have arrested Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue and nine other activists.

According to the police, the Tibetans, including two student activists, had reportedly planned a protest during Premier Xi's visit to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) calling for the independence of the tense region under the Chinese state.

However, the police has refused to state the grounds on which this was done.

According to The Hindu, the developments came following an alert from Central intelligence agencies regarding planned protests by Tibetan Youth Congress and Students for Free Tibet-India.

Tenzin who is an also an award-winning poet and writer lives in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh and was picked up by the police from Villupuram district. The other Tibetan activists were held in Chennai upon their arrival from New Delhi.

Villupuram police confirmed to TNM that Tenzin was remanded after he was booked under Section 7(1)(a) of The Criminal Law Amendment Act read with Section 4 of The Foreigners Act (obstruction, intent to use violence and loitering).

The two leaders are set to hold meetings at Mahabalipuram between 11 and 13 October. Security has been beefed up in the temple town with 500 police personnel deployed in the 20 km stretch between Mahabalipuram and Akkarai.

Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami undertook a visit to oversee the arrangements for the summit. CCTV cameras have been installed across the town as well as on the outskirts for round-the-clock surveillance.

(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)