Report of police shooting refuted

CHENGDU: The local government yesterday refuted a claim by "Tibet independence" groups that police had shot a young Tibetan who attempted to set himself on fire on Friday in Sichuan province.

The 24-year-old man, identified as Tashi, also known as Tapey, attempted self-immolation using inflammables while holding a portrait of the Dalai Lama and a "snow lion flag" meant to represent "Tibetan independence" on a street in the Aba county seat at about 1:30 pm.

Police immediately doused the fire and took the young man to hospital, where he is said to be in a stable condition.