On 18 July 2001, a major bomb explosion occurred in the Chinese government–run gold mining area in Tengchen, Chamdo Prefecture (Chinese: Changdu), in the Tibet Autonomous Region. In the aftermath, Chinese People’s Armed Police arrested 16 monks and laypersons on suspicion of involvement in the incident.

During interrogation, the detainees were reportedly subjected to severe torture. One detainee, Marong Tseta, died as a result of the abuse, while several others were later released in extremely poor physical condition.

On 13 November 2001, the Chamdo People’s Intermediate Court sentenced Tenzin Khedup and Thupten Thabkai, both from Tsamphung Monastery, to life imprisonment and imposed fines of 29,000 yuan and 19,000 yuan respectively. A third individual, Damdul, a friend of the two, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Another detainee, Thupten Sherab, was released on the same day.