Dharamsala: At least one monk was killed and another seriously injured in China's Sichuan province as hundreds took part in anti-China protests there, said the Tibetan government-in-exile here on Wednesday.

"According to our sources, a protest march took place from Chokri village in Drakgo county to Tehor town March 25. Over 200 nuns and an equal number of monks took part in the procession," said the spokesman of the government-in-exile, which is not recognised by any nation.

The spokesman further stated that the protesters were shouting 'Free Tibet' and 'Long live the Dalai Lama' , when the Chinese military fired at a 21-year-old monk from Chokri monastery killing him on the spot. The protestors were able to keep the body in their possession, he said.

"Another monk was critically injured in the firing and nine protestors were arrested by the Chinese military. We are releasing the names of the six arrested protesters," he said.

"Later military helicopters flew around the area. A curfew was imposed late March 25," the spokesman said. Anti-China protests began March 10 in Tibet and have now spread to neighbouring Chinese provinces, which have Tibetan minority settlements.

The Tibetan government in exile says over 140 Tibetans have been killed in the protests so far. The Chinese put the number at 22.

Source : IANS