Lobsang Samten was arbitrarily detained along with Lobsang Nyima and Sonam Gewa on 13 February 2012 from their monastic residence. They were charged of being the ‘ringleaders’ of the non-violent demonstration staged on 8 February 2012 in Trindu (Ch: Chenduo) County ; ; in Kyegudo in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. About 1400 monks and lay Tibetans joined the peaceful demonstration bearing banners and shouting slogans calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet; release of the 11th Panchen Lama; equal rights to promote and protect Tibetan language and culture.