Wen Jiabao visit: Delhi Police take five Tibetan protesters into custody

New Delhi, Dec. 16 (ANI): Delhi Police on Thursday took at least five Tibetan protesters into preventive custody after they raised slogans outside Hyderabad House, the venue of the Sino-Indian bilateral talks, here.

Police officials confirmed the detention of the Tibetans.

On Wednesday, Delhi's Tibetan population had planned to greet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is on a three-day visit to the Indian capital, with massive protest rallies. However, a tight security cover placed in the area dampened their efforts to an extent.

Seven Tibetan Youth Congress activists were detained for protesting outside the Taj Palace Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, where the Chinese Premier is to stay till Friday.

One of the detained protesters, Tenzin Norsang, said: "We protested outside the hotel telling Wen Jiabao that Tibet does not belong to him and China should vacate it."

Tibetans also took part in a march from Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, to Jantar Mantar where they held a meeting.

They chanted anti-China slogans and waved Tibetan flags, while demanding that China leave Tibet.

The demonstrators carried placards that read 'Free Tibet Wen, Free Tibet Now'.

A seminar was also held in Delhi titled "Rethinking India's Sino-Tibet Policy".

A security blanket has been thrown across Delhi, sanitising all routes and areas that the Chinese Premier is supposed to pass through.

Commuters can expect to have a harrowing time in New Delhi and South Delhi during Premier Wen's stay.

Police have also stepped up security outside Chinese embassy and the hotel where Premier Wen is staying to ensure that protests do not mar his visit. (ANI)