Asang and Dota, and a woman named Nortso from Dragyab County were arrested under suspicion of having photos and videos on their phones that showed the recent demolitions of Buddha statues at Drago Monastery. They were interrogated and subsequently arrested on 10 January 2022 in Drango County, Kardze Prefecture and handed over to the Chamdo Police Station.

Some of these images were found as background photos on their WeChat accounts, and appear to have been discovered during a phone search conducted upon their return from a pilgrimage to the monastic community of Larung Gar in neighbouring Serthar County.