Tibetan activist set himself ablaze outside Hu's hotel

A 24-year-old Tibetan, Lhakpa Lsering, attempted to immolate himself on Thursday morning in front of Hotel Taj in Colaba where Chinese President Hu Jintao was staying.

According to the police, Lsering poured kerosene on his legs and lit himself with a lighter at Colaba’s P Ramchandani Road at 9am.

He was immediately arrested by the police under Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of the IPC and the fire was doused by the police.

Meanwhile, the police arrested 32 Tibetans from various places in the city for protesting against the Chinese President’s visit. Many of them were later released.

The DB Marg police, Gamdevi and Marine Drive police also arrested nine Tibetans for demonstration in their respective areas. Additional Police Commissioner (South Region) D Kanakratnam told DNA that the security was tight at Colaba and surrounding areas. “We ensured that no untoward incident took place.”