Holding Tibetan flags and placards, around 20 members of the organisation shouted slogans and sang songs, demanding Chinese withdrawal from Tibet and immediate UN intervention in the dispute.

The organisation, which had initially planned a protest march and a candlelight vigil in front of the Metro Channel, was denied permission by the Kolkata police yesterday.

Kesang, the spokesperson for the organisation, said: "We did not want to remain quiet on a day when the Olympic Torch relay is being held in India. Since the police did not give us permission, we decided to hold a spontaneous protest."

Another member said: "There would have been 50 people at the most and all we had wanted was a peaceful march. But we weren't even given an explanation for the denial. It is distressing when such things happen in a democratic country."

The members added that they were not against the Olympics, but the time and the venue for this year's games were wrong. Sports symbolise peace, prosperity and brotherhood, whereas China hardly stands for those values.

"This may be a very small step, but it is the only way to show how much we feel for Tibet and how much its independence matters to us,” said Tenzing, another protester. “Tibet belongs to the Tibetans just as China belongs to the Chinese."

She feels that the people around the world must analyse if the Chinese' atrocities on Tibetans are justified.

The half-hour march was kept low profile for fear of police intervention. Kesang said the future steps of the organisation would depend on the unfolding situation in Tibet.