Ngawang Choechok was a 16-year-old monk from Toelung and a member of Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. On 14 September 1991, he joined four other monks in a peaceful demonstration near the Tsuglagkhang Temple, where they shouted slogans supporting Tibetan freedom and expressing loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Soon after the protest, Ngawang Choechok and the other monks were arrested by Chinese security forces. They were taken for interrogation and reportedly beaten before being transferred to the Gutsa Detention Centre, where they were held for several months.

Following a trial in February 1992, Ngawang Choechok was sentenced to three years in Drapchi Prison for his involvement in the peaceful protest. Despite being the youngest among the group, he still received imprisonment, reflecting the strict punishment given to Tibetan monks participating in political demonstrations.