18 April 2008
Tibetans in India hold protests over Olympic torch relay
(Phayul) The Olympic torch relay in New Delhi saw the centre of the Indian capital emptied of people except for thousands of police. However, Tibetan exiles and their supporters across the country staged various protests and marches in their respective areas. In Bangalore, mock corpses were carried through the streets with protestors wearing the Olympic circles around their necks bound by chains. Some local politicians, supporters and Indian students from around the region, attended the protest. Mysore saw the presence of hundreds of monks at the town hall raising pro-Tibet slogans. People from surrounding constituencies of Hunsur, Kollegal and Chowkur gathered at Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan settlement in India and burned Chinese goods. Over 30 Tibetans were arrested protesting outside the Chinese Embassy in Mumbai but police said they would be released without charge. There were also demonstrations in McleodGunj, Dharamsala, and activists from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Ravangla, Sonada and Salugara assembled at Siliguri.