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Three Tibetans arrested for attacking local Indians

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Rajinder Kumar who suffered major injuries after he was attacked by a Tibetan working in the security department of the Tibetan government-in-exile on 1 April 2010. He was admitted to the Zonal Hospital.Tibet Sun/Prem Sood/India

Three Tibetans working in the security department of the Tibetan government-in-exile have been arrested by police after allegedly attacking local Indians with sharp-edged weapons in Dharamshala on Thursday evening. A magistrate on Monday sent them to jail until a next hearing on 16 April.

The three Tibetans are Tenzin Gyaltsen, Tsering Dhargyal and Tsewang, all have been booked under section 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (sharp injury), 323 (minor injury) and 34 (a criminal act committed by several persons) of the Indian penal code, according to Sanjeev Gandhi, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Kangra district.

“It was a matter of a small thing. A glass of a vehicle of a nearby villager had been broken. His cross questioning to a Tibetan converted in to a scuffle,” Gandhi said.

“We are not conclusive of the matter as the investigation is on.”

Gandhi said one of the villagers has been seriously injured. “Doctors on duty said that the injuries were threat to the person’s life.”

According a Tibetan eye witness who did not wish to be named, a fight broke out after a taxi driver from the Gamru village complained about his broken wiper and rear mirror of his vehicle which was parked within the premises of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The taxi driver accused a watchman of the exile government of not looking after his vehicle.

While the argument was heating up, Tenzin Gyaltsen and Tsering Dhargyal, who had consumed beer as confirmed by one of their friends, approached the scene on a motorcycle. Seeing the argument, they both tried to intervene to stop it. One of the villagers reportedly pushed Tsering Dhargyal and hit him with a sharp-edged weapon after which a bloody fight ensued.

Tsering Dhargyal’s hand was badly injured. One of the Tibetans had snatched the weapon and then attacked the villager causing serious injurious to Rajinder Kumar who was later admitted to the Zonal Hospital. Panja Ram and Rajesh Kumar sustained minor injuries.

Tsering reportedly tried to call police but was hit with a brick by the villagers before the call went through. The mobile phone went missing. Tenzin Gyaltsen also tried to call the police but he also failed.

According to some other Tibetans interviewed by Tibet Sun, there were at least 10 to 15 Indian villagers involved, seemingly under the influence of alcohol. At least eight to ten taxis with Indian drivers arrived later to attack the Tibetans.

Tsewang, a 50-year-old exile government employee, was only trying to stop the fight. It is unclear if he was involved in the fight. The Tibetans later managed to run away after more villagers and their taxi driver companions arrived.

Police arrested the three Tibetans the same evening on Thursday and kept them in custody. On Monday they were presented before the magistrate, who sent them to jail to await the results of investigations. A police officer at the Mcleod Ganj police post said that the weapon in question will be sent to Shimla for examination.

The villagers were not arrested.

Another Tibetan, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the issue of taxi drivers and other locals from the nearby village of Gamru beating up watchmen has often happened. These villagers often hang around within the fenced area of the exile government at night causing panic in the locality.

The person added that the three Tibetans are respectable exile government employees. They would not initiate such a fight.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun