Varanasi:A 19-year-old Tibetan student today attempted suicide by setting himself on fire in Sarnath here, police said.
Tenzin Choeying, a 2nd-year Tibetan student of Purva Madhyama tried to committ suicide by pouring kerosene over his body and setting himself on fire in his hostel room, Circle Officer (Cant) Prashant Kumar said.
The incident took place when the students and the faculty members were being addressed by the President of the Tibetan government in exile (officially known as Central Tibetan Administration), Lobsang Sangay, in the varsity campus, he said.
His friends extinguished the fire by putting blanket on his body and rushed him to a private hospital where his treatment is underway, the officer said, adding, he sustained over 60 per cent burn injuries and his condition is stable now.
According to the eyewitnesses, Choeying, engulfed in flames, ran towards the hall where Sangay was addressing, amid chanting of slogans for “freedon of Tibet”, Kumar said.
Choeying alleged that the people in Tibet were facing “atrocities and China do not accept Sangay as the country’s elected chief, so suicide was the only path”.
The university administration, however, denied that Choeying raised slogans for the “freedom of Tibet” and said the student “was upset over poor grades” in the recent examination results, Kumar said.
Choeying’s family members, who are settled in Karnataka, have been informed about the incident, he said, adding further investigation was on in the matter.
A student said a hand-written note written by Choeying and addressed to his friend was recovered which stated, “My body is for Tibet and Tibetan youngsters to open their eyes to learn Tibetan language .
–PTI