Ven. Thupten Tsering, a 61-year-old Tibetan monk from Nagchu, was arrested in the third week of November 1987 after Public Security Bureau officers reportedly took him from his home at 2:00 a.m. and transferred him to Gutsa Prison, Lhasa. He was subsequently transferred to Drapchi prison, No visitors were reportedly allowed to see him after his detention.

This was his third imprisonment. He had previously been imprisoned from 1959 to 1961, and was arrested again in 1965in Gyantse while attempting to flee to India, for which he remained imprisoned until 1970. After his release, he was assigned to a state-controlled Work Group, where his movement was reportedly restricted and monitored.

The stated reason for his 1987 arrest was his association with foreigners, including contact with his brother, Geyshe Sherab Gyatso (Lobsang Sherab) of the Tushita Dharma Center in Italy, and an Italian visitor, Dr. Dallari Stefano, whom he had accompanied and hosted during their visit to Tibet.