Thupten, a 59-year-old Lhasa-based businessman originally from Markham, Tibet, joined the Voluntary Tibetan Resistance Force following the March 1959 uprising and took part in armed resistance against Chinese forces. He was subsequently captured and imprisoned at Nagchu Prison for three years. In 1962, he was transferred to Sog County Prison.

In 1966, he was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment and was chained and tortured over an extended period. During the Cultural Revolution, Tibetan political prisoners were specifically targeted, and Thupten was sentenced to execution. In 1979, following changes in state policy, he was released from imprisonment.