Lobsang Rabten/File photo

DHARAMSHALA: An official of Kirti Tsodun monastery in north-eastern Tibet’s Ngaba region is still missing after he was picked up by police on the night of 19 August, a report coming of out Tibet says.

Both the monastery and local residents have frantically searched the whereabouts of Lobsang Rabten, 33, an official of the monastery’s religious management office. They heard that he is being detained at an undisclosed location in Barkham town, but his condition and the reason behind his arrest remain unknown. Gyalrong Tsodun Kirti Monastery is located about 85 km from Barkham town.

Two days before his arrest, an 18-year-old monk of the monastery, Lobsang Lozin, lit himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government and died.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts and well-being of two monks of Kirti monastery – Lobsang Sangay, 30, and Lobsang Kunchok, 40, – still remain unknown since they were arrested by police in Ngaba on 14 and 17 August respectively.