Local residents in Aba County of southwest China's Sichuan Province said they were angry at what had happened at Kirti Monastery, adding they had long been hoping the authorities give law education to the monastery.

Rigzin Phuntsog, a 16-year-old Kirti monk, set himself on fire on March 16. After the police put out the fire, some monks from the monastery forcibly took Rigzin Phuntsog away and held him inside the monastery for nearly 11 hours. Rigzin Phuntsog later died in hospital due to complications from his burns, local government officials said.

Criticism towards the monastery escalated after a local TV channel broadcast the incident.

Among the residents walking and praying outside Kirti Monastery, Tashi Tsering is a devout Buddhist.

"The monk came out of the monastery and set himself on fire, which made me feel pity at first. I later felt the deed was too cruel and inhumane after knowing some monks held the burned inside the monastery for more than 10 hours so he would die without treatment," said Tashi Tsering.

He added the monks were tarnishing the image of Buddhism. "What they did violated the law and religious doctrines. I felt sad about that," he said.

Tashi, a Tibetan merchant, said he often saw Kirti monks going out of the monastery for wine. "It is against the doctrines. It is a pity that Kirti monks do not focus on studying Buddhism."

Some of the residents were especially enraged after learning that some Kirti monks had contracted venereal diseases.

Drolma, a mother of a middle school girl in Aba, said some Kirti monks had seriously broken doctrines and it was urgent that they receive education in law and religious doctrines.