Ngawang Losel, whose lay name is Tenzin, was a 22-year-old monk from Meldro Gongkar County in the Tibet Autonomous Region. He was affiliated with Ganden Monastery at the time of his arrest.

On the 15 April, 1993, Ngawang Losel was arrested while carrying a Tibetan national flag together with two other monks. The two accompanying monks reportedly managed to escape, while he was apprehended by the authorities.

Following his arrest, he was detained for approximately two months at Gutsa Detention Center before being transferred to Drapchi Prison. He was subsequently sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. During his incarceration, he was permitted to receive family visits.