Charred remains of Tibetan found in Mcleodganj; self-immolation suspected

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 29

Charred remains of an unidentified Tibetan youth were found in a forest below the Dalai Lama temple at Mcleodganj on Saturday causing quite a stir in the area.

While many Tibetans suspected that it could be another act of self-immolation, police say anything in the matter could only be said after post-mortem.

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Sources said the body was noticed by a Tibetan passerby at about 4 pm. He told Tibetan settlement officials that the body of a Tibetan was on fire in a forest, who further informed police.

As the word spread a large number of residents of Mcleodganj started gathering at the spot. Many Tibetan websites cast apprehensions that this could be another self-immolation by a Tibetan.

In last two years more than 150 Tibetans have committed self-immolation to protest against the Chinese rule in Tibet. While most of them have committed self-immolation inside Tibet, two have taken the extreme step in India.

Sources added that the place where charred remains of the youth have been recovered is used by Tibetans to invoke the deities through incense ceremonies.

The DSP (Headquarters) who was present at the spot said a forensic team has been called to examine the body and the spot where it was found.

A Tibetan youth who had committed self-immolation in Varanasi two weeks ago was cremated in Mcleodganj by the Tibetan Youth Congress.

Another Tibetan youth who had committed self-immolation in Delhi was also cremated in Mcleodganj.