Villagers in anguish pray for release of a Buddhist abbot held in detention since May

A leader of a Tibetan village has died after six months of brutal torture, Tibet Watch has learned a month after his passing.

Gonpo Namgyal (L) and Abbot Tenpa Dhargyal (R)

The village leader of Ponkor village, Gonpo Namgyal, died on 18 November at his home just two days after Golog Prefecture police released him from custody. Extensive burns on his body were seen during his cremation at Traling Monastery, which a source described were signs of repeated administration of high-voltage electric shock. Gonpo was only in his 40s.

Villagers in anguish have since been praying for the release of another local leader, Abbot Tenpa Dhargyal of Shangtoe Monastery, who is known to be highly respected by the late Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok, founder of the renowned Buddhist academy of Larung Gar.

Abbot Tenpa is amongst the 20 Tibetans detained in late May by police authorities of Darlak County for having led with Gonpo Tibetan language classes, and promoting Buddhist ethics by advising nomads to renounce selling their livestocks to slaughterhouse. Details of other detainees are still unknown.

“Khenpo [Abbot] is an incredibly precious holder of the Buddhist doctrine,” said a source, weeping. “His devotees are extremely worried about his health so they are continuously performing rituals in the village and requesting other monks and religious devotees to conduct as many prayers for his health and safe release.”