Chinese paramilitary forces shoot dead seven protestors in province near Tibet

Beijing: At least seven protesters were shot dead by Chinese paramilitary police during clashes at the Kirti monastery in Ngaba county, Sichuan province on Sunday, according to India-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Hundreds of monks and Tibetans raised the Tibetan national flag and chanted slogans for independence after a Sunday morning prayer session, prompting police to rush in and control the protest.

Tear gas was used against the protestors, who reportedly attempted to take the protest towards county government headquarters.

The protest is known to have left hundreds of people injured in the clashes, after what the TCHRD described as a "peaceful demonstration by thousands of people".

The area has already received a reinforcement of troops after at least ten monks were arrested following a protest at a nearby monastery on Saturday.