Teenagers Rinchen (17) and Sonam Dhargye (18) set themselves on fire in a dual protest on 19 February in Ngaba County at around 9:30 pm (local time). Both succumbed to the flames. According to sources, the families were able to recover their bodies.

Rinchen and Sonam reportedly went to the same primary school in Kyangtsa Township. Rinchen had however attended another school in Wenchuan for a few years and moved to Qinghai, where he worked. At the time of his protest, Rinchen was on his Losar (Tibetan New Year) Holiday visiting his family in Kyangtsa. According to the same sources, the families were able to recover both their bodies; it is not clear if they were allowed to carry out the traditional prayers and rituals without interference by the Chinese officials.

Rinchen’s parents were Dhondup Tsering and the late Aadon. Sonam Dhargye’s parents are Tsering Dhondup and Takho.