Olympic Torch reaches locked-down Delhi

by Rob Peters | April 16, 2008 at 09:32 pm | 333 views | 4 comments

New Delhi turns into fortress before arrival of Olympic torch

The political hot potato has now reached India.

The Olympic flame has reached the Indian capital Delhi from Pakistan amid tight security on the latest leg of its troubled tour before the Beijing Games.

Many Tibetans live in the country and exiles tried to storm the Chinese embassy on 21 March.

Some 15,000 police and commandos have locked down the heart of the city where the torch relay will be held.

The flame's journey has so far seen chaotic scenes in London, Paris and San Francisco amid pro-Tibet protests.

Secret timing

A least 50 Tibetans were detained by police at a rally in front of the Chinese embassy on Wednesday.

No times have been given for the relay on Thursday amid fears of protests by the 100,000-strong Tibetan exile community.

India has trimmed the relay route to a third of the original 9-km (5-mile) distance.

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René

at 22:01 on April 16th, 2008

good stuff:

What's the big fear? The Tibetan protestors or the Chinese? These people aren't terrorists no matter what the Chinese say. They aren't going to blow anybody up, or shoot them.

Sanjay Jha

at 03:35 on April 17th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Sanjay Jha

at 03:36 on April 17th, 2008

Shibayan Raha, Outreach Coordinator for Students for a Free Tibet, India, was arrested early Thursday morning while talking to the media outside of the Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi. Raha was arrested at 4AM, April 17. The Olympic Torch, which will be run through New Delhi in few hours, is staying at Le Meridien Hotel. Raha was immediately taken into police custody and is being held at Parliament Street Police Station of New Delhi. Hundreds of Tibetans are fully geared to breach security cordon and highlight their cause.