Around noon, the protesters got down from a reserved bus and ran towards the Chinese Embassy shouting “Free-Tibet” slogans. Within 15 minutes, the police rounded them up and drove them to the Chanakyapuri Police Station in the same bus.

They have been placed under preventive arrest. This is the third time in the last four days that the Tibetans living in exile have targeted the Chinese Embassy, forcing the Delhi Police to step up security arrangements. On March 14, 36 Tibetan women had to be placed under preventive arrest after they tried to storm into the Chinese Embassy to mark their 49th Tibetan Women Uprising Day.

On Friday evening, 50 Tibetans were arrested after they had tried the same feat, this time to protest Chinese repression in Lhasa, the Tibet capital. The police are on full alert. “One company of anti-riot police of the CP reserve has been put on high alert. The moment an alarm will be sounded, they will be here,” a senior officer said.

“On Saturday also, the police personnel of two police stations were stationed near the embassy for preventive action,” he added. In addition, Police Control Room vans are making continuous rounds in and around the area to check for potential signs of unrest.

At Jantar Mantar, nearly 350 Tibetans organised a peaceful demonstration. Twelve of them will go on a hunger strike from tonight demanding international support. “Tibet desh hamara hai,” claimed the demonstrators. Born in India, most of them belong to the second generation of Tibetan refugees. “We have never seen Tibet as it is very difficult to get a visa to get there but we do know the situation there. Tibet is not a part of China. We are asking for our own country,” said Dechoe (24). Friends Namdol (26) and Angu (23) nodded in support.

“The Government of India has been was very supportive to our cause for the last 49 years and we are very grateful for that. But now India is working under the pressure of China and doesn’t allow our marchers to go back home,” said Konchok Yangphel, coordinator of the movement.