Lhundrup Kalsang, also known by his lay name Jamyang Tashi, born in 1971 in Shigatse County, was arrested in 1996 along with three others from Gyantse County for distributing “Long Life” prayers for the Dalai Lama. The prayers had been composed and reproduced by Lobsang Damchoe (born 1941) of Shigatse Palchoe Monastery, who had previously been expelled from his teaching position, and his associate Bhu Chung-chung (born 1959). The leaflets were circulated across monasteries in Gyantse.

On 2 November 1996, during a Buddhist prayer ceremony at Palchoe Monastery, the group distributed the “Long Life” leaflets. Lobsang Damchoe was searched by authorities, who discovered the leaflets in his possession, leading to the arrest of him and his companions. The four detainees were held at the Shigatse PSB Detention Centre and subsequently sentenced to multiple years of imprisonment. Lhundrup Kalsang and Ngimpa Dondrup (born 1969) were transferred to Drapchi Prison, while the other two were sent to different facilities.