DHARAMSHALA: Reports coming out of Tibet say Chinese police fired at peaceful Tibetan protesters who were demanding the release of a fellow Tibetan in Driru county in eastern Tibet on Sunday (6 October), amid repressive measures reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution years being imposed in the region.

Tibetans in Dathang township in Driru county in Nagchu prefecture in Tibet Autonomous Region gathered in front of the government office to demand the release of Dorje Draktsel. A Tibetan named Tagyal sustained leg injury and several Tibetans were injured when police fired at them. Phone and internet lines were cut off in the area.

The shooting incident followed a political indoctrination measures imposed by the Chinese government in Driru county ahead of its founding anniversary on 1 Oct. A large number of officials and work team arrived in the region on 10 Sept to carry out the measures which include forcing Tibetans to hoist Chinese flags on their houses.

On 29 Sept, over 40 Tibetans were arrested when they protested against the repressive measures in Mowa village in Driru. The arrest drew strong protest from Tibetans in the neighbouring villages of Taklhay, Bahro, Lavog and Kona, who gathered in Mowa village to demand the release of the arrested Tibetans.