Sunday, April 10 2005 15:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: A Tibetan today (Apr 10, 2005) staged a dramatic protest from atop the main building of the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) in Bangalore, in a breach of security when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was interacting with top scientists on the ground floor.

Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue emerged from the balcony of the tower, unfurled a "Tibetan flag" and a banner with message 'Free Tibet', minutes after the visiting dignitary was ushered in for the scheduled interaction.

Tsundue, General Secretary of "Friends of Tibet; India" organisation, shouted slogans in support of Tibet and denouncing China such as "Free Tibet" and "China has destroyed our culture".

He also threw pamphlets, which said: "We want to tell Wen Jiabao that there will be no peace in Tibet unless the Chinese leave and start living as a neighbour, as they used to be for thousands of years. So, let there be peace in Tibet".

The incident, in the full glare of the media, came as an embarrassment for securitymen who were caught off guard and Tsundue continued his protest for nearly 15 minutes, as some television channels started beaming the protest live.

Tsundue then even went a step futher and crossed the balcony wall and was standing on the edge, perched atop, as he was some 120 feet above the ground. Finally, police personnel lifted him by dragging both hands from behind even, as he continued his anti-China slogans.

There was little doubt that the police were caught napping by what appeared to be a well laid-out protest to draw attention to the Tibetan cause during the high-profile visit.

Some Tibetan leaders had hinted at a "surprise protest" and members of the fourth estate, for whom the interaction on the ground floor was out of bounds, were in full strength outside the venue.

Chinese security officials accompanying Wen also appeared to be an anxious lot. Tsundue was detained and police said he would be arrested; they are studying under what sections he should be charged.

Police admitted to security lapse in the incident.

"There is a security lapse. There is no doubt about it", Additional Commissioner Of Police (Law and Order), H C Kishorechandra, said. "We will look into all aspects".

Meanwhile, police and the IISc sought to blame each other for the protest episode.

While the police maintained that it was the duty of the IISc security to "sanitise" its premises, IISc top bosses said it was the task of the police.