FREE TIBET: The police officials take Tibetan activists into custody at Jantar Mantar       PICS/IMTIYAZ KHAN

TIBETAN activists who had been on the hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for the past nine days to mark their protests against Beijing Olympics, were forcibly taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and many were detained late Tuesday.

Hundreds of policemen gathered at Jantar Mantar alongwith senior officers including the DCP and ACP to end the Tibetan protest in New Delhi. "Tibetan activists formed tight human chain to avoid their detention. They were taken to police station in two buses," said an eyewitness.

"Six Tibetan activists, who were sitting on indefinite hunger strike, along with three other Tibetan were admitted in the emergency ward of the hospital at around 10.30 pm," said Dr Pankaj of RML.

Freedom movement

With the aim to attract the attention of the international community towards this cause, Tibetan  activists' fast had entered its ninth day yesterday.

"We want support from the Indian government and the people of India in our struggle for freedom" said Namang, a protester.

"We are inspired by Indian freedom struggle. Just the way India got independence from the clutches of British imperialism, we also want freedom from China," said Tapaishi, another protester.

Demanding to release the political prisoners including Panchen Lama, whom the Chinese abducted in 1995, Tibetan Youth Congress president Tsewang Rigzin said, "The Chinese government should stop its atrocities in Tibet."

Mass demonstration

Over 25,000 Tibetans are expected to gather in the Capital on August 8, the day Beijing Olympics will begin, to participate in a mass demonstration campaign and appeal to the world community to boycott the Beijing Olympics.