Tibetan refugee who self-immolated succumbs to burns

The Tibetan refugee who set himself afire after pouring petrol over his body in Kathmandu succumbed to severe burn injuries late on Wednesday night, police confirmed today, Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Feb 14, 2013, 13:44:55 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The Tibetan refugee who set himself afire after pouring petrol over his body in Kathmandu succumbed to severe burn injuries late on Wednesday night, police confirmed on Thursday.

“The person died at 10:30 pm while undergoing treatment at the Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital,” Nepal Police spokesperson Keshav Adhikari told HT.

No one has yet come forward to claim the body of the refugee who sustained over 90% burn injuries before police personnel could douse the flames and rush him to hospital.

The incident was the 100th reported case of self-immolation by Tibetans in Tibet and outside since February 2009 and coincided with centenary of the declaration of Tibet’s independence by the 13th Dalai Lama.

Meanwhile security remained tight in Boudhanath Stupa, the religious site where the incident took place, and also around the Chinese embassy and visa offices in Kathmandu on Thursday to prevent any fallout.

A report in www.phayul.com mentions of a secret candlelight vigil and prayers by Tibetan refugees in Kathmandu on Wednesday night to express solidarity with those who have self-immolated till date.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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