Four students are reportedly missing.

The eight students from Second Middle School in Chuchen (Ch: Jinchuan) County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, tried to leave Tibet in March 2023 but were stopped when police uncovered their plans, reports Tibet Watch.

An anonymous source told Tibet Watch, that those who were arrested have been interrogated and assaulted while in detention. Furthermore, each student was fined 20,000 yuan (roughly £2175). 

The source went on to state that police have contacted the parents of the four missing students and informed them that their children have crossed the border and are supposedly in the hands of ‘criminal or blacklisted organisations’. Parents were told that they may be able to retrieve their children, but only if they are willing to pay 80,000RMB per person (roughly £8700).

Locals believe the four missing students are also in police custody.