DHARAMSHALA: A tense situation prevails at Tsodun Kirti monastery following a string of arrests and interrogation of Tibetan monks at gunpoint during arbitrary night raids by the Chinese authorities and police.

Since this Monday (13 August), the police have been storming into the monks’ living quarters every night, beating them at gunpoint to reveal information about the three monks who set themselves on fire. Three monks of Tsodun Kirti monastery – Lobsang Lozin, 18, Chimey Palden, 21, and Tenpa Dhargye, 22 – died of self-immolation in March and July this year.

During a night raid last Sunday (12 August), the police arrested three monks – Lobsang Senge, 19, Tenpa Yarphel, 18, and Namse, 18 – and took them to an unknown location.

Two more monks, Thubwang Tenzin, 20, and Aasung, 22, were picked up from their rooms during a raid at the monastery at around 4 pm on Thursday (16 August).