A Tibetan Political prisoner who died under mysterious circumstances was killed in Chinese police custody two years ago.

Reports in exile confirmed that Norsang, a 36 years old Tibetan political prisoner, has died in custody more than a week after his arbitrary detention in 2019 at Tachen Township in Nagchu City, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) or the traditional Tibetan province of Kham.

A father of six, Norsang, and five other Tibetans from the same town were sent to the political reeducation class on 20 September 2019 for opposing the forced political education campaign organised by local Chinese authorities in lead up to the Chinese party-state’s 70th founding anniversary celebrations.

While the rest of the detainees were released, the whereabouts of Norsang remained unknown for a long time. Norsang’s family members were refused their plea to visit him or deliver food and other necessities. Family members were threatened that Norsang would be given a heavier sentence if they continued with such requests.

To cover up the extrajudicial killing, concerned authorities claimed Norsang was overburdened by debt and had killed himself by jumping off a bridge over the local Shakchu River. However, sources in exile contradicted the claim and confirmed that Norsang didn’t owe any money to anyone and believed that Norsang’s untimely death was caused by severe beating and torture while in custody.

Due to strict communication surveillance and severe restrictions in the area, the news has not been able to reach outside Tibet for almost two years.