New Delhi: A group of protesting Tibetans on Wednesday attempted to storm a five-star hotel where Chinese President Hu Jintao is staying but were detained by police who also picked up several other activists from the capital.
Eleven activists were picked up from near Oberoi Hotel on Wednesday afternoon while eight girls were prevented from proceeding towards the facility where Hu Jintao, who is in Delhi to attend BRICS summit, is staying.
Security cover around the hotel has been strengthened and a senior police official said 15 companies of police have been spread across the VVIP areas of the capital to thwart any protest by Tibetans.
Several Tibetans were picked up from other parts of the capital, including Jantar Mantar and Majnu ka Tila.
Police presence in Majnu ka Tila, a Tibetan colony, has also been increased and Tibetans were not allowed to assemble there.
The police tightened security at the RML hospital, where a Tibetan protester, who set himself ablaze two days ago, died on Wednesday morning.
"Who knows they might start a protest anywhere, so we have been asked to stay on the alert all around the hospital and inside, till the body is not released from the hospital," a policeman stationed at the hospital said.
A Tibetan who was waiting at the hospital said, "Many of our fellow Tibetans who were assembled at the Jantar Mantar for a prayer meeting for Yeshi were detained. I escaped and came here.
"I saw policemen questioning those having features like us assuming them to be Tibetans before entering the hospital gates. The journalist of a web portal, Phayul.com, a website that publishes news and views on Tibet has also been detained," he said.
Tibetan poet-activist Tenzin Tsundue, who shot to limelight ten years ago by climbing the scaffolding outside a Mumbai hotel where Chinese premier was staying, was taken into preventive custody yesterday ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's Delhi visit.
Tsundue's preventive arrest came as part of hightened measures taken by the security establishment to make sure that there are no out-of-the-box protests at places where Hu Jintao will be going.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the capital for the BRICS Summit attended by top leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Around 2,000 police personnel and NSG commandos have already been deployed in the VVIP areas of the capital and especially near Taj Palace Hotel where the summit will take place.
Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Brazil President Dilma Rousseff and South African President Jacob Zuma will participate in the summit hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
A senior police official said a three-tier security apparatus will be put in place at the five-star hotel.
The outer and middle cordon will be handled by Delhi Police while the second layer will include a team of special officials of Delhi Police.
The third layer will be handled by Delhi Police in coordination with embassy officials, police said.
The official said the floors above and below the suites where these leaders will be staying have been kept vacant.
Special emphasis will be given to ward off any protest by Tibetans near the hotel. Tibetans have threatened to protest against Hu Jintao during his visit.
Special traffic arrangements have also been made.
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