Dharamshala: - Reports coming out of Tibet say, Chinese authorities have detained six Tibetan monks on suspicion of activities challenging Chinese government rule amid a continuing security crackdown in a restive county in eastern Tibet.
Four were taken into custody on unknown charges, while two others were seized in connection with the painting of independence slogans and mailing of "anti-China" writings to local officials in Sog county in eastern Tibet, sources said.
"On March 17, four monks of Sog county's Drilda monastery were arrested for unknown reasons," Ngawang Tharpa, a Tibetan living in India, told The Tibet Post, citing contacts in the region.
The arrested monks have been identified as; Tsangyang Gyatso, Tsewang, Atse, and Gyaltsen, adding, "Tsangyang Gyatso, who is a senior monk of the monastery has been detained before."
A security clampdown is now under way in the monastery's neighboring Trido township, with still-unidentified residents also reported detained and "several government vehicles patrolling in the area," he said.
But, their details, including age, current condition and whereabouts are unknown.
According to Mr Tharpa, 'two monks from another Sog county monastery were seized by police for painting slogans and spreading writings calling for Tibet's independence from Chinese rule.'
On March 14, Gendun Drakpa, a monk of Tsandan Monastery was detained "for burning the Chinese flag and writing 'Tibet is Independent' on the door of Chinese officials stationed at the monastery. He is about 20 years old, and is a native of Yang-nge village in Sog county's Yaklu township," Tharpa added.
Two days later, Choeying Kalden, 20 and also from Tsandan, was detained for "sending anti-China writings to the head officials of the Chinese work team stationed at the monastery," Tharpa said, adding that the writings were also copied to some of Kalden's friends among the monks.
Kalden is from Yegu village in Sog county's Yaklu town. He is being held at an unknown location, and no word has been received concerning his condition, Tharpa said.
"The monks of Sog Tsandan Monastery are now being called to the police station each day to be interrogated," sources said.
