DHARAMSHALA: Tsangyang Gyatso, a Tibetan chantmaster of Drilda monastery in Tibet’s Sog county was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Chinese court, according to media reports. Tsangyang Gyatso was falsely charged for separatist motives and plot to protest against the government.

Tsangyang Gyatso was arrested on 17 March from Trido Township along with three others, Tsewang, Atse and Gyaltsen. The exact reasons, however, for the arrest was not known.

The exact date of the sentencing is not known. However, it is estimated that around 26 days have passed since the verdict was announced, media reports say.

After his arrest in March this year, several monks from the monastery have approached the local Chinese authorities urging them to release the detained monks.