One protestor was killed and five police officers were injured after dozens of people clashed with police over the presumed self-immolation of three monks in southwestern Sichuan Province on Monday, local authorities said Tuesday.

More than 100 people, including monks, gathered in the county seat of Luhuo, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, starting Monday noon, after rumormonger claimed "three monks would set themselves on fire there, and their bodies should not be given to the government."

Instigated by the rumor, the crowd, some wielding knives and hurling stones, attacked a police station. They smashed two police vehicles, two fire-engines and stormed into nearby shops and a bank damaging the bank's cash dispenser.

In addition to the death, four other protesters were injured in the clash.

All of the injured have been taken to hospital, according to the local authority.

The violence ended at about 7 p.m. Monday, under the authority's persuasion effort. The county seat has so far become orderly again.

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